Postoperative radiation therapy for small, low-/intermediate-grade parotid tumors with close and/or positive surgical margins.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Patients with small, low-/intermediate-risk parotid cancers, treated with surgery, and who have the single prognostic factor of close and/or positive margins, constitute an unusual subset. This study evaluates local control and morbidity associated with postoperative radiation therapy for low/intermediate grade parotid cancer in these patients.

METHODS:

Between 1999 and 2006, 17 patients underwent postoperative radiation therapy at Beth Israel Medical Center for acinic cell carcinoma or low-intermediate-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid with close/positive margins. Pathology, treatment, and follow-up data were retrospectively analyzed for morbidity and local control. Two- and 5-year estimates of survival outcomes were performed followed by an analysis of complications.

RESULTS:

There were no local failures and no significant long-term complications.

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients with small, low-risk cancer of the parotid gland have excellent local control and low treatment-related morbidity when receiving postoperative radiation therapy for positive or close margins of resection.

• Authors: Samuel M Richter, Patricia Friedmann, Waleed F Mourad, Kenneth S Hu, Mark S Persky, Louis B Harrison
• Journal: Head & neck (Head Neck) Vol. 34 Issue 7 Pg. 953-5 (Jul 2012) ISSN: 1097-0347 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21850698 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Child
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Kaplan-Meier Estimate
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Parotid Gland (pathology, radiation effects)
• Parotid Neoplasms (radiotherapy, surgery)
• Postoperative Care
• Radiation Injuries
• Radiotherapy, Adjuvant (adverse effects)
• Retrospective Studies
• Survival Analysis
• Young Adult