Tumeurs malignes de la parotide: prise en charge multidisciplinaire, rôle de la radiothérapie

[Radiotherapy of rare head and neck tumors]

Management of head and neck tumors is complex because of multiple anatomical locations and histologies possibilities. Rare tumors must be managed in a specialized center and be registered in the French network of expertise on ENT Cancers (Refcor). Despite heterogeneous levels of evidence, radiotherapy plays an essential role in their treatment. Radiation therapy is generally indicated in the adjuvant setting, or in case of non-operability. Dose and target volumes depend on histology, location and extensions of the tumor, and the quality of the excision if applicable. We present here a review of the literature and available guidelines for the management by radiotherapy of rare upper aerodigestive tract tumors.

Radiotherapy of salivary gland tumours

Primary tumours of the salivary glands account for about 5 to 10% of tumours of the head and neck. These tumours represent a multitude of situations and histologies, where surgery is the mainstay of treatment and radiotherapy is frequently needed for malignant tumours (in case of stage T3-T4, nodal involvement, extraparotid invasion, positive or close resection margins, histological high-grade tumour, lymphovascular or perineural invasion, bone involvement postoperatively, or unresectable tumours). The diagnosis relies on anatomic and functional MRI and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for the diagnostic of benign or malignant tumors. In addition to patient characteristics, the determination of primary and nodal target volumes depends on tumor extensions and stage, histology and grade. Therefore, radiotherapy of salivary gland tumors requires a certain degree of personalization, which has been codified in the recommendations of the French multidisciplinary network of expertise for rare ENT cancers (Refcor) and may justify a specialised multidisciplinary discussion. Although radiotherapy is usually recommended for malignant tumours only, recurrent pleomorphic adenomas may sometimes require radiotherapy based on multidisciplinary discussion. An update of indications and recommendations for radiotherapy for salivary gland tumours in terms of techniques, doses, target volumes and dose constraints to organs at risk of the French society for radiotherapy and oncology (SFRO) was reported in this article.

The Role of Prognostic Factors in Salivary Gland Tumors Treated by Surgery and Adjuvant Radio- or Chemoradiotherapy - A Single Institution Experience

Purpose

Salivary gland neoplasms are rare cancers of the head and neck region. Radical treatment in tumors of large salivary glands is surgery. Adjuvant treatment depends on the presence of risk factors that worsen the prognosis, but the role of these factors in patients treated by surgery with radio- or radiochemotherapy still remains unclear. The aim of the study is assessment of treatment results and identification of the risk factors affecting the prognosis in patients with tumors of large salivary glands subjected to adjuvant radio- or radiochemotherapy.

Patients and Methods

The study included 126 patients with local stage large salivary gland cancer who were treated surgically with adjuvant radio- or radiochemotherapy. The study excluded inoperable patients, patients with distant metastases, patients in a poor general condition and patients with contraindications to adjuvant treatment. They were treated between 2006 and 2016 and evaluated in terms of OS (overall survival), CSS (cancer-specific survival), RFS (relapse-free survival) and LRFS (local relapse-free survival).

Results

During a 44-month follow-up, 5-OS, CSS, RFS and LRFS were 55%, 68%, 60% and 73%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that OS was influenced by the following parameters: WHO performance status, TNM stage (T and N parameters), radicality of surgery, histopathological type, applied method of radiotherapy planning and tumor volume. WHO performance status, T and N parameters of the TNM stage and large volume of elective area influenced CSS, and the T parameter of the TNM stage, the dose below 60Gy and tumor volume influenced RFS and LRFS. Chemoradiotherapy can be used in N-positive patients.

Conclusion

The analysis indicates that the TNM grade, histopathological type, patient’s condition, radicality of the procedure, technique and dose of radiotherapy are the most important prognostic factors in these patients.

[Cyto-histological correlation in the management of parotid gland tumors: A retrospective study of 160 cases]

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to correlate the cytological and histological results and evaluate the diagnostic performance of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the management of parotid gland tumors.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 160 patients with a parotid gland tumor who underwent fine-needle aspiration and parotidectomy surgery between January 2005 and August 2016 at the Limoges university hospital center.

RESULTS

On 160 fine-needle aspirations performed, fine-needle aspiration diagnoses were: 77 benign lesions, 35 malignant lesions and 48 non-diagnostic cases. Final histological diagnosis revealed there were 113 benign lesions and 47 malignant lesions. A hundred and one cytological diagnoses were accurate over 112 contributive fine-needle aspirations: seven false-negative cases and 4 false-positive cases were observed. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 82, 95 and 90% respectively for fine-needle aspiration, and 83, 95 and 92% respectively for association of fine-needle aspiration and magnetic resonance imaging. Diagnostic concordance between fine-needle aspiration and final histology for malignant lesions was 78%. A greater number of contributive fine-needle aspirations was observed among experimented operators.

DISCUSSION

Fine-needle aspiration is a reliable, safe and effective diagnostic tool that allows good differentiation between malignant and benign diagnosis in the preoperative management of parotid gland tumors. The association of fine-needle aspiration and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can improve diagnostic performance.

[Radiotherapy of carcinoma of the salivary glands]

Indication, doses, and technique of radiotherapy for salivary glands carcinoma are presented, and the contribution of neutrons and carbon ions. The recommendations for delineation of the target volumes and organs at risk are detailed.

[Predictors of malignancy in the management of parotid tumors: about 76 cases]

La pathologie tumorale de la glande parotide est complexe et pose un problème diagnostique et thérapeutique. Une bonne analyse des facteurs prédictifs de malignité de ces tumeurs parotidiennes semble actuellement nécessaire en vue d'une meilleure planification thérapeutique. Le but de ce travail est d’étudier les facteurs prédictifs de malignité dans les tumeurs parotidiennes à travers une étude rétrospective sur 76 cas de tumeurs de la parotide traités au service d'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie et de Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale de l'hôpital militaire Avicenne de Marrakech entre janvier 2000 et décembre 2012. Il s'agit de 40 femmes et 36 hommes. L’âge moyen était de 44 ans pour les tumeurs bénignes alors qu'il était de 50 ans pour les tumeurs malignes. Le délai moyen de consultation était de 24 mois pour les tumeurs bénignes et de 16 mois pour les tumeurs malignes. La tuméfaction de la région parotidienne a été un signe révélateur constant chez tous les malades. La malignité est évoquée cliniquement devant la douleur, la paralysie faciale, la fixité par rapport au plan superficiel ou profond et la présence d'adénopathie. L'IRM constitue désormais l'examen de choix dans l'exploration des masses tumorales parotidiennes avec une bonne valeur diagnostique de malignité ou de bénignité. La cytoponction à l'aiguille fine n'a pas de valeur que si elle est positive. La parotidectomie exploratrice avec examen anatomopathologique extemporané demeure la clé du diagnostic positif. Les tumeurs parotidiennes bénignes représentent l'entité la plus fréquente (80%) et l'adénome pléomorphe demeure le type histologique prédominant (61%). Quant aux tumeurs malignes, elles sont plutôt rares, dominées essentiellement par les carcinomes muco épidermoides (6,5%). Le traitement chirurgical est l'option de choix souvent associée à un curage ganglionnaire et une radiothérapie pour les tumeurs malignes. La paralysie faciale est la complication la plus fréquente de la chirurgie parotidienne.

Outcomes and prognostic factors for major salivary gland carcinoma following postoperative radiotherapy

PURPOSE

To report outcomes of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for major salivary gland carcinoma (SGC) and identify patients at high risk of distant metastases (DM).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patients with major SGC treated between 2000-2012 were identified. All patients underwent initial primary resection, with neck dissection (ND) therapeutically (if N+) or electively in high risk N0 patients. PORT was delivered using 3D-CRT or IMRT. Multivariable analysis (MVA) assessed predictors for DM, cause-specific (CSS) and overall survival.

RESULTS

Overall 304 patients were identified: 48% stage III-IVB, 22% lymphovascular invasion (LVI), 50% involved margins and 64% high risk pathology. ND was performed in 154 patients (51%). Adjuvant chemotherapy was used in 10 patients (3%). IMRT was delivered in 171 patients (56%) and 3D-CRT in 133 (44%). With a median follow-up of 82 months, the 5-(10-) year local, regional, distant control, CSS and OS were 96% (96%), 95% (94%), 80% (77%), 83% (82%) and 78% (75%), respectively. DM was the most frequent treatment failure (n=62). On MVA, stage III-IVB and LVI significantly correlated with DM, CSS and OS, while positive margins predicted DM and CSS, and high risk pathology predicted DM. No grade ⩾ 4 RTOG late toxicity was reported; 9 patients had grade 3, including osteoradionecrosis (n=4), neck fibrosis (n=3), trismus (n=1) and dysphagia (n=1).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery and PORT with 3D-CRT/IMRT produced excellent long-term outcomes. Further research is required for patients with stage III-IVB, LVI, positive margins and high risk pathology to determine the incremental benefit of systemic therapy in management of SGC.

Elevated carcinoembryonic antigen tumour marker caused by head and neck cancer: a case report and literature study

Carcinoembryonic antigen is a tumour marker commonly increased in gastrointestinal and pulmonary cancers. We report a case of a 46-year-old man with a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the base of tongue with an elevated and traceable serum carcinoembryonic antigen level. This antigen proved to be a valuable marker in the treatment follow-up. When a raised carcinoembryonic antigen level is found, salivary gland malignancies should be taken into the differential diagnosis and clinical examination of the head and neck region should not be overlooked.

A rationale for chemoradiation (vs radiotherapy) in salivary gland cancers? On behalf of the REFCOR (French rare head and neck cancer network)

BACKGROUND

Salivary gland carcinomas constitute a heterogeneous group of tumors, with over 20 histological subtypes of various prognoses. The mainstay of treatment is surgery, with radiotherapy advocated for unresectable disease or postoperatively in case of poor prognostic factors such as high grade, locally advanced and/or incompletely resected tumors. Concurrent chemotherapy is sometimes advocated in routine practice based on criteria extrapolated from squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, on radioresistance of salivary gland tumors and on results obtained in the metastatic setting. The aim of this review was to identify situations where chemotherapy is advocated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A search of literature was performed with the following key words: parotid, salivary gland, neoplasm, cancer, malignant tumor, chemoradiation, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and treatment. Case report and studies published before 2000 were not included.

RESULTS

Platinum-based regimens were the most frequent. Other regimens were reported and seemed dependent on histology. The level of evidence for the concurrent delivery of chemotherapy with radiation therapy is supported by a low level of evidence. Prescribing chemotherapy mostly relies on poor prognostic factors similar to those used to indicate high dose radiotherapy. Protocols vary with histology.

CONCLUSION

The rationale for adding chemotherapy to radiotherapy remains to be demonstrated prospectively. Although the type of systemic treatments used may be adapted on histology, the strongest rationale remains in favor of cisplatin.

[Malignant parotid tumors: epidemiology in Togo]

INTRODUCTION

We had for aim to determine the epidemiological profile of malignant parotid tumors in sub-Saharan country: Togo.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively studied the files of patients seen and treated for malignant parotid tumors, from January 1989 to December 31, 2008, at the Tokoin teaching hospital. Patients treated for another malignant tumor at the same time were excluded from the study.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Ninety-six patients were included. Thirty-one tumors (32.29%) were malignant, in 18 male and 13 female patients with a sex ratio of 1.38. The average age was 39years (range 24-70years of age). Two patients could not undergo surgery. Histologically, there were 10 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (32.26%), 6 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma (19.4%), 6 cases of adenocarcinoma (19.4%), 4 cases of carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma (12.90%), 3 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (9.7%), 1 case of acinar carcinoma (3.2%), and 1 case of cystadenocarcinoma (3.2%).

DISCUSSION

Squamous cell carcinoma was the most frequent histological type observed in Togo, contrary to literature data for which mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most frequent malignant parotid tumor.

Three-dimensional conformal postoperative radiotherapy in patients with parotid tumors: 10 years' experience at the European Institute of Oncology

Aims and background

Salivary gland malignancies are rare. The aim of our study was to investigate radiotherapy-related toxicity and clinical outcome in patients treated at our division with postoperative radiotherapy (pRT) for parotid tumors.

Methods and study design

Forty-three consecutive patients (32 with primary parotid tumors, 9 with parotid metastases and 2 with recurrent benign diseases) were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

The median follow-up was 28 months. Twenty and 5 patients had a follow-up longer than 2 and 5 years, respectively. Thirty-seven patients were alive and most of them (78%) were free from disease. The local and distant control rates were higher in patients with primary parotid tumors (94% and 87.5%) than in patients with parotid metastases (87.5% and 75%). Grade 3 radiotherapy-related acute toxicity of skin and mucosa was recorded in 20.9% and 28% of patients, respectively. Two patients (4.7%) had grade 4 skin toxicity. Late toxicity data were available for 33 (77%) patients. None of the patients developed severe (grade 3 and 4) late toxicity of soft tissues, skin or temporomandibular joints.

Conclusions

Postoperative radiotherapy is a feasible treatment that was found to be effective mainly in patients with primary parotid tumors. Toxicity was acceptable but could probably be further reduced using more advanced radiotherapy techniques. Longer follow-up is required to achieve definitive results.