Carcinomas of the minor salivary gland - Report of six cases

Background: This article reports the experience of our treatments of minor salivary gland carcinomas with different histological patterns and clinical stages. Methods: Form 1987 to 1994, 6 patients with minor salivary gland carcinoma were diagnosed and treated in our department. One patient presented with stage-I disease, four stage-II, and one stage-III disease. The treatment modalities of choice are surgery combined with postoperative radiotherapy. Results: Overall survival rates were 100% at 2 years, and 75% at 5 years. Only one patient with stage-III expired of local recurrence. Conclusion: The minor salivary gland carcinomas may be treated with satisfactory outcome, if they were early diagnosed.