Quality of life in patients submitted to surgical treatment for minor salivary gland neoplasms

Abstract

This study was aimed at assessing the quality of life in patients submitted to surgical treatment for minor salivary gland neoplasms (MSGN). Twelve patients (10 women and 2 men, mean age: 49.4 years) with histopathologic diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma (PA, 3 cases), polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA, 2 cases), cystic adenoid carcinoma (CAC, 4 cases), and muco-epidermoid carcinoma (MEC, 3 cases) were evaluated. All of them were treated by surgical excision; patients with CAC received radiotherapy as well. The patients' quality of life was evaluated through a self-administered questionnaire concerning their physical well-being, emotional status, normal daily activities, and family relationships. The results showed that patients with MEC - the youngest among all patients - reported a significantly greater worsening of their physical well-being and emotional status after treatment as compared with patients treated for PA (P < 0.05), and also of their functional activities as compared with those treated for PA and PLGA (P < 0.05). In conclusion, age of development of the neoplasm and type of disease produce more impact on patients' quality of life than does the therapy's degree of aggression.