Original researchSurgical experience of primary salivary gland tumors of lung: A case series

- Primary salivary gland type tumors of the lung are rare neoplasms.
- Mucoepidermoid and adenoid cystic cancer are common histological subtypes.
- Surgery is the main stay of treatment.
- Regional node metastasis is rare.
- Complete surgical resection results in excellent overall survival.

IntroductionPrimary salivary gland type tumors of lung (PSGTTL) are rare intra-thoracic malignant neoplasm. Their description in literature is largely limited to a few case series/case reports. We herewith present our surgical experience of and review its clinical presentation, management options and survival outcomes.MethodsThis retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained computerized data-base of patients was conducted in a tertiary teaching oncology centre in North India. The case records of all the patients who underwent surgery for PSGTTL were reviewed. Details concerning the clinical presentation, preoperative therapy, operative procedure, histopathological examination, postoperative complications and outcome were retrieved from the case records.ResultsThere were seven patients who underwent surgery for PSGTTL during the period from January 2012 to December 2014. Hemoptysis (n = 6, 85.7%) and dyspnoea (n = 6, 85.7%) were common presenting clinical features. Fiber-optic bronchoscopy revealed endobronchial growth in all patients - five patients had growth in left main bronchus while one each had growth in right main bronchus and right intermediate bronchus. Biopsy confirmed adenoid cystic carcinoma in 4 (57.1%) and muco-epidermoid carcinoma in 3 (42.9%) patients. All but one had R'0' resection - pneumonectomy in five and bilobectomy in one patient; one patient was found to be unresectable in view of dense adhesions between lung and heart. Median pathological tumor size was 3.5 cm; none of the patient was found to have metastatic spread to lymph nodes. Overall, six patients are alive after a median follow up of 5 months (range 1-30).ConclusionRadical surgery to achieve R'0' resection is the main stay of treatment of PSGTTL to achieve prolonged survival.