J Korean Soc Ther Radiol.  1992 Jun;10(1):35-42.

The Role of Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

• Kim WD
• Park CI
• Kim KH

Abstract

Forty eight patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma(ACC) in the head and beck treated between 1979 and 1990 were reviewed according to treatment modalities and clinical courses. The common site of origin was minor salivary gland (69%), mostly had palate and maxillary sinus. 11 patients received radiation therapy(RT) alone and 37 patients received combined surgery and radiation therapy. The follow-up period of the survivors ranged from 4 to 118 months (median 49.5 months). The 5 year local control rate was 69.3%, 67.3% and 83.9% in RT alone, conservative operation(OP)+RT and radical OP+RT group, respectively(p>0.05). The control of local disease was best achieved with radical OP+RT. In postoperative RT, high dose (> or =60 Gy) and generous field size (> 64cml) yielded a better local control rate. Actuarial overall survival rate was 79.0%, at 5 years and 19.2% at 10 years. Distant metastases (DM) developed in 40% of patients, mostly in the lung. Disease-free(NED) survival rate was 45.8%, at 5 years and significant differences did not exist according to primary sites and treatment options. Survival rate after the onset of DM was 19.5% at 5 years. Occurrence of DM tends to lower survival significantly. In an effort to find the role of RT in the treatment of ACC, our data suggest that a well-planned postoperative RT employing a high dose and generous field size can produce high local control rate and remaining urgent problem of distant metastasis demands more effective chemotherapy for the purpose of improving survival of ACC patients.

Keyword

Adenoid cystic carcinoma; Radiation therapy; Field size

MeSH Terms

Adenoids*
Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic*
Drug Therapy
Follow-Up Studies
Head*
Humans
Lung
Maxillary Sinus
Neck*
Neoplasm Metastasis
Palate
Salivary Glands, Minor
Survival Rate
Survivors