Risk Factors of Sung et al Associated with Metastastic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Arising in the Head or Neck

 

Distant metastases may occur 10-20 years after the initial diagnosis, so continued followup is necessary.

 

Risk factors for distant metastases:

(1) histologic pattern

(1a) solid pattern: 64%

(1b) tubular pattern: 42%

(1c) cribiform pattern: 48%

(2) location

(2a) major salivary gland: 80% by 15 years

(2b) minor salivary gland from oral or pharyngeal sites: 80% by 10 years

(2c) minor salivary glands of sinonasal sites: 50% at 10 years

 

Histologic grade did not correlate with distant metastases.

 

Metastases	Disease Specific Survival at 10 Years
absent	72%
present	48%

 

Sites of distant metastases:

(1) lung (most)

(2) bone (some)

(3) kidney (few)

(4) brain (rare)

(5) liver (rare)

(6) pleura (rare)

Sites of Metastasis	Median Survival
lung only	54 months
bone with or without lung	21 months