Sublingual gland tumors: clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic analysis of 13 patients treated in a single institution.

BACKGROUND

Sublingual gland tumors are rare, although frequently malignant. This study describes the clinicopathologic features and treatment results and reviews the literature.

METHODS

Thirteen cases treated between 1996 and 2007 were reviewed with interest on clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic information. Survival data were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Malignancies represented 92.3% of cases. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was the most common malignant type (66.7%). Most patients (83.3%) presented in advanced pathologic TNM stages (III or IV). All cases underwent surgical treatment. Neck dissection was performed in 69.2% with no metastases detected. Ten patients (83.3%) had adjuvant radiotherapy. Distant metastases occurred in 3 patients (25%). The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 78.7% and 87.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Tumors of the sublingual gland are rare and are usually malignant. Radical surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy seems to offer adequate local and regional control. Unlike distant failure, local recurrence and regional metastases are not common.