Clinicopathologic predictors of recurrence and overall survival in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck: A single institutional experience at a tertiary care center

Background The purpose of this study was to determine factors that impact recurrence and long‐term survival of head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 87 patients with head and neck ACC who were evaluated between 1992 and 2009. Staining for Ki‐67, p53, α‐estrogen receptor (αER), and progesterone receptor (PR) was performed. Results Forty men (46%) and 47 women (54%) were included in this study. Median follow‐up for patients was 98 months. Five‐year recurrence‐free and overall survival (OS) rates were 56% and 81%, respectively. Ki‐67 and p53 expression was observed in 5 (6%) and 2 (2%) patients, respectively. αER and PR were all negative. The most important determinants of disease‐free survival (DFS) were perineural invasion (PNI; p = .001) and female sex (p = .027). Disease site (major vs minor salivary gland) was the only predictor of worse OS on multivariate analysis. Conclusion Perineural invasion, female sex, and disease site were the most consistent predictors of poor outcome in head and neck ACC. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 1705–1711, 2014