Abstract
We evaluated the results of radiation therapy in three cases with skull base spread and/or metastasis from salivary gland tumors. The period from primary diagnosis to skull base recurrence ranged from 28 to 120 months (mean 80), and the time from which neurological symptoms appeared to radiation therapy was from 8 to 12 months (mean 10). A decrease in tumor size and relief from symptoms were achieved in all cases. The period of relief from symptoms ranged from 4 to 12 months (mean 8.3). There were no serious complications following radiation therapy. Although most malignant tumors originating from the salivary glands have been thought to be radioresistant, palliative radiation therapy for skull base spread and/or metastasis effectively improves the patient's quality of life.
