Risk of second primary malignancy after minor salivary gland cancer: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database analysis.

BACKGROUND

Minor salivary gland cancer (MiSGC) is a group of tumors with varied disease course in the head and neck. We evaluated the risk of a second primary malignancy (SPM) in MiSGC patients and identified possible prognostic factors for survival using a large population database.

METHODS

We used the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to evaluate the risk and prognosis of SPM in patients diagnosed with MiSGC.

RESULTS

The risk of SPM increased in MiSGC patients compared with the endemic rate. The risk of SPM was slightly greater in female patients and who underwent radiotherapy. Age at primary diagnosis, sex, race, year of diagnosis, SEER stage, radiotherapy, SPM, histology, and tumor site were significant survival prognostic indicators of MiSGC patients.

CONCLUSION

Radiotherapy and female sex were risk factors for SPM after MiSGC. Long-term surveillance for SPM was important in MiSGC patients.