Fig. 2.

The most significant clinical parameter in our series was the cT4 at diagnosis, and in particular. (A) Paresis of the facial nerve (T4a; P=0.006, log-rank) was associated with a 66% 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) (green line) vs. 91% 5-year DSS for patients with normal nerve function at diagnosis. (B) Involvement of other extra-parotid structures such as skin, ear canal, mandible (T4a) or skull base (T4b; P<0.0001, log-rank) was associated with a 44% 5-year DSS (azure line), vs. a 94% 5-year DSS for patients without involvement of the above cited structures at diagnosis. Notably, facial nerve function was always impaired when involvement of such structures was evident.