| Abstract: |
Purpose: To study the relationship between radiation exposure and salivary gland tumors (SGT). Materials and Methods: Eighteen patients with SGT as second cancers after head and neck irradiation were identified from chart review of 2 institutional databases of 3,025 patients evaluated between 1986 and 2001. Results: The median age at the time of initial radiation therapy was 22 (range 5-74) years. The median age of the group at the time of their diagnosis of a SGT was 54 (range 21-79) years. The median interval between radiation exposure and diagnosis of the SGT was 21 (range 4-64) years. The most common initial diagnosis for which patients received radiation therapy was Hodgkin's disease. Histology of the secondary SGT was varied, but most were malignant (n = 15) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the most common histology (n = 9). Conclusion: Epidemiological statements cannot be deduced from this type of study, but these cases suggest an association between prior radiation exposure and the risk of developing a secondary SGT. There was a wide range in the dose of radiation and the age at exposure suggesting that exposure to head and neck radiation at any age and dose may increase the risk for SGT. This series also suggests an increased risk of developing malignant (versus benign) SGT after radiation exposure. |
