The frequency of lymph node and distant metastases and the metastatic patterns of salivary gland carcinomas were studied clinically and pathologically. Forty-nine salivary gland carcinomas (9 from the parotid gland, 7 from the submandibular gland, 6 from the sublingual gland, 14 from the palatal gland, 5 from the retromolar gland, 4 from the buccal gland and 4 from other glands) were reviewed.
Five-year survival was estimated at 91.6% for 25 cases without metastases, and 58.5%for 24 cases with metastases.
The frequency of lymph node and distant metastases varied depending on the anatomical site of origin. In carcinomas of the parotid, submandibular and retromolar glands, lymph node metastasis was more frequent than distant metastasis, whereas in carcinomas of the sublingual and palatal glands, distant metastasis was only observed.
Different histological carcinomas showed different patterns of metastasis. In adenoid cystic carcinoma, distant metastasis was more frequent than lymph node metastasis. However in mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, lymph node metastasis was more frequent than distant metastasis.
In mucoepidermoid carcinoma, metastasis tended to developed early in the course of the disease. In adenoid cystic carcinoma, metastasis developed up to 18 years after treatment.
The histological pattern of adenoid cystic carcinoma and the histological grade of mucoepidermoid carcinoma were related to the appearance of metastasis. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of solid and trabecular types and mucoepidermoid carcinoma of epidermoid cell type metastasized frequently.
