OBJECTIVEMyoepithelial carcinoma (MC) is a rare malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland. The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of MC of the parotid gland.

METHODSThe clinicopathological data of 17 cases of MC of the parotid gland treated in our hospital from 1999 to 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Of all the 17 patients, 9 cases received radical surgery only, 5 cases received postoperative radiotherapy, 2 cases received preoperative radiotherapy, and one case received chemotherapy. The survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTSAmong the 17 patients, 11 patients had post-operative recurrence (11/17, 64.7%), Of these 11 cases, 5 cases (45.5%) had recurrence within one year after the first operation. During the follow-up for 12-180 months (median 50 months), six cases died (two patients died of distant metastases and 4 cases died of local recurrence). The overall 1-year, 2-year and 5-year survival rates were 94.1%, 74.2% and 64.9%, and the overall 1-year, 2-year and 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were 70.6%, 48.1% and 40.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSRadical surgery is the main treatment modality for myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland. For the patients with extensive lesions or after palliative surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy might be helpful. However, its therapeutic efficacy remains to be proved.