Background: Distant metastasis of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is most commonly identified in the lung, but risk factors are still on debate.
Methods: Risk factors for lung metastasis were evaluated by using Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier curves.
Results: Of 112 patients, 48% had distant metastasis; 94.4% of whom had lung metastasis. Univariable analysis revealed sublingual or minor salivary gland, tumor size ≥2.5 cm, and perineural invasion as risk factors (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.99 [1.02-3.91], 2.57 [1.19-5.58], and 2.46 [1.28-4.74], respectively), whereas size, perineural invasion, and local recurrence were risk factors in multivariable analysis (HR: 2.29 [1.05-4.96], 2.32 [1.09-4.96], and 2.68 [1.24-5.79], respectively).
Conclusion: Sublingual gland or minor salivary glands ACC has a higher risk of lung metastasis. If the site is not considered, the following factors increased the risk of lung metastasis; (a) size ≥2.5 cm, (b) perineural invasion, and (c) local recurrence.
Keywords: head and neck neoplasm; neoplasm metastasis; risk factors; salivary glands.
© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.