Background and purpose: The incidence of parotid gland tumor is highest in the major salivary gland. Malignant parotid gland tumor is of complex pathology features

different clinical manifestation and prognosis. We study the clinical characteristics

treatment and prognostic factors of malignant parotid gland tumor. Methods: From 1989 to 2011

52 patients of primary malignant parotid gland tumor were retrospectively reviewed. All cases were treated with surgery and radiation. Among these cases

23 cases were mucoepidermoid carcinoma

14 cases were adenoidcystic carcinoma

5 cases were acinic cell carcinoma

6 cases were myoepithelial carcinoma

1 case was adenocarcinoma

2 cases were squamous carcinoma and 1 case was undifferentiated carcinoma. Results: The median follow-up was 62 months (14–191 months). The 3-year and 5-year local control rate were 98.1% and 94.2%

respectively. The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rate were 89.0% and 86.3%

respectively. The 3-year and 5-year local regional recurrence-free survival rates were 90.3% and 87.1%

respectively. The univariate analysis revealed that T stage

lymph nodes metastatic status

clinical stage

histological subtype

pathological differentiation

operation pattern and radiotherapy dose were of statistic significance to the prognosis. And multivariate analysis showed that clinical stage and pathological differentiation were the independent prognostic factors of malignant parotid gland tumor. Conclusion: The combination therapy of surgery and radiation in malignant parotid gland tumor is deserved to recommend

and clinical stage and pathological differentiation are the independent prognostic factors.