Cervical lymph node metastases in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this research was to determine whether neck dissection is necessary for the adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of head and neck.

Materials and methods

This article screened the abstract and full-text papers that investigated salivary gland primary ACC of head and neck. Two independent reviewers searched for articles published before October 2017 in three databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and Ovid), having no limits in date and language. Statistical data were analyzed statistically by Review Manager 5.3.

Results

In total, 18 studies involving 2993 patients were included in the analysis. Of the 2993 patients, 473 patients had cervical lymph node metastasis, with a merge frequency of 16% (95% CI: 13–19). Among included articles, only 4 involved cervical lymph node occult metastases, with a merge frequency of 14% (95% CI: 9–20). There were 5 articles containing minor salivary glands (MiSGs) involving 370 patients of which 92 patients had cervical lymph node metastases and the merge frequency was 25% (95% CI: 11–38). Moreover, there were 4 studies on major salivary glands involving 904 patients of which 158 patients had cervical lymph node metastases and the merge frequency was 17% (95% CI: 15–20).

Conclusion

Elective neck dissection is unnecessary for all patients with salivary gland ACC of head and neck. Moreover, compared with major salivary glands, MiSGs have a higher cervical lymph node metastases rate in ACC. The overall cervical lymph node metastases rate of MiSGs is 25%, which is enough to attract our attention. Therefore, we suggest that neck dissection might be applied to ACC of MiSGs.

Introduction

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck is an uncommon carcinoma characterized by frequent local recurrence and distant metastasis. Most researchers of ACC have focused on its distant metastases.¹ Cervical lymph node metastasis has traditionally been regarded as an obviously uncommon occurrence. Increasing researchers have focused on the cervical metastases of ACC in recent years. Primary tumor site, peri-tumoral lymphovascular invasion and T stage were associated with nodal metastasis.^2,3 Cervical lymph node metastases has been reported to occur in approximately 4%–33% of patients with ACC.^4–7 The reasons of large variation in the reported nodal metastasis (4%–33%) may be that most studies reported on small patient cohorts and the difference of primary tumor sites. Minor salivary glands (MiSGs) are more often involved and have a higher rate of neck lymph node metastases than major salivary glands (MaSGs).^2,7–9 Therapeutic neck treatment is usually performed in clinically node positive (cN+) status. Elective neck treatment is recommended only in specific high-grade tumors and is not generally suggested in all ACCs. However, several recent researches have focused on cervical metastases in ACC, and elective neck treatment (either operation or radiation) has got attention as a viable option.^5,10–12 The decision regarding an elective neck dissection (END) should be based on the incidence of lymph node metastases. The reports about cervical lymph node metastases rates of ACC are different. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether neck dissection is necessary for the ACC of head and neck by analyzing the frequency of cervical lymph node metastases with meta-analysis.

Materials and methods

Search strategy

We searched Web of Science, PubMed, and Ovid for scientific papers concerning cervical lymph node metastases for ACC. Articles that met the following search strategies in the title, abstract or keywords were included, without regard to language (carcinoma, adenoid cystic OR (carcinoma AND adenoid AND cystic) OR adenoid cystic carcinoma OR (adenoid AND cystic AND carcinoma)) AND (node AND (neoplasm metastasis OR (neoplasm AND metastasis) OR neoplasm metastasis OR metastases) OR neck dissection OR (neck OR dissection)). The latest search was conducted on October 14, 2017, and manual searches in the reference lists of related articles were performed to ensure inclusion of all relevant studies.

Inclusion/exclusion criteria

The management and repeat deletion of the identified literature were performed using Endnote X7 software. If several literatures were published by the same team, the latest study or study with the largest size was selected for further evaluation.

Inclusion criteria

1. Researches that investigated the frequency of cervical lymph node metastases in primary salivary gland ACC of head and neck.

2. The researches included data that can be extractable, and cervical lymph node metastases were confirmed by pathology.

Exclusion criteria

1. Researches on patients who had undergone preoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

2. Researches that only investigated ACC of the upper respiratory or sinonasal.

3. Researches that only investigated clinical cervical metastases in salivary gland ACC.

Single case reports and articles in languages other than English and Chinese were also excluded.

Data extraction and quality assessment

Data extraction and quality assessment of all included researches were independently performed by 2 authors. Controversies were solved by discussion or consultation with another author. Basic information such as authors, publication year, recruitment years, patient characteristics, total ACC cases, cases of cervical metastases and frequency of metastases, treatments and outcomes were extracted. The quality assessment of each articles was managed using Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale.

Statistical analysis

Data synthesis and statistical analysis were performed with Review Manager 5.3. Standard error, risk difference and 95% CI were pooled to analyze the morbidity of cervical lymph node metastases. Chi-squared-based Q test and I² were used for heterogeneity evaluation. The fixed-effect model was used when there was no heterogeneity (P > 0.10 and I² <50%); the random-effect model was used when there was heterogeneity (P < 0.10 or I² >50%). Publication bias was evaluated using the Funnel plots.

Results

We retrieved 544 articles from the database search (Web of Science, PubMed and Ovid), and 3 additional articles were found after reviewing articles and reference lists of retrieved articles and preprint online publications. After removing the duplications, 491 articles were retained. Next, the studies were screened by title and abstract and 51 articles remained. After full-text revision, 33 articles were excluded for various reasons. Thus, 18 articles, all published in English, were included for further investigation.^{2,3,5,7,13–25} The study selection procedure is illustrated by flow diagram (Figure 1). In total, 18 studies involving 2993 patients were included in the analysis. Of the 2993 patients, 473 patients had cervical lymph node metastasis, which were approved by pathologic inspection.

Figure 1.

PRISMA flow diagram for the study selection process.

Among 18 included studies, 4 had a relatively low quality and 14 had a high-quality design as found by quality assessment. Detailed information for the included articles is listed in Table 1. Eleven studies only provided total cases of patients without the number of patients with neck dissection. Seven studies involved the cases of patients with neck dissection, 4 of which included occult metastases. The overall metastases rate was defined as the ratio between the number of pathological node positive (pN+) cases and total cases. During the follow-up period, patients without neck dissection initially presenting with regional metastases or recurrence would also be considered as pN+ cases. The occult metastases rate was defined as the ratio between the number of cN-pN+ cases and total cN0 cases.²⁶ Detailed information about occult metastases is listed in Table 2.

Table 1.

Information on 18 studies included in the analysis

Study	Year	Recruitment years	Total ACC cases	Cases of neck dissection	Cervical lymph node metastases (pN+)	Metastatic rate, %
Bhayani et al5	2012	1990–2007	30	30	7	23.3
Amit et al7	2015	1985–2011	270	270	79	29.3
Min et al2	2012	1995–2009	616	—	62	10.1
Liu et al13	2015	2000–2013	272	272	58	21.3
Megwalu and Sirjani3	2017	1988–2013	720	—	126	17.5
Mücke et al14	2010	1992–2006	33	18	8	24.2
van Weert et al15	2013	1979–2009	105	—	11	10.5
Jang et al16	2017	1991–2013	61	—	8	13.1
Ali et al17	2017	1985–2009	87	30	10	11.5
Meyers et al18	2016	2009–2012	87	—	9	10.3
Bjørndal et al8	2015	1990–2005	71	—	12	16.9
Ko et al19	2016	2000–2014	60	—	7	11.7
Hämetoja et al20	2017	1974–2012	17	17	4	23.5
Mannelli et al21	2017	1980–2005	44	—	8	18.2
Ouyang et al22	2016	1990–2015	228	—	21	9.2
Zhang et al23	2013	2000–2007	218	—	29	13.3
Kruse et al24	2010	1999–2008	13	—	3	23.1
Lee et al25	2014	1991–2009	61	30	11	18.0
Total cases			2993		473

Note: “—”, Data not provided.

Abbreviations: ACC, adenoid cystic carcinoma; pN+, pathological node positive.

Table 2.

Articles on occult metastases

Study	Year	cN+		cN−		Overall metastatic rate, %	Occult metastases rate, %
		Total	pN+	Total	pN+
Bhayani et al5	2012	0	0	30	7	23.3	23.3
Lee et al25	2014	4	3	57	8	18.0	14.0
Amit et al7	2015	44	40	226	39	29.3	17.3
Ali et al17	2017	3	3	84	7	11.5	8.3

Abbreviations: cN+, clinically node positive; cN−, clinically node negative; pN+, pathological node positive.

The primary site of inclusion cases in these studies was somewhat inconsistent. Three studies only included MiSGs ACC patients; 2 studies only involved MaSGs ACC patients; and 2 researches provided node metastases cases of MiSGs and MaSGs. The detailed information for primary site of salivary glands was not provided in the rest of researches (11 articles). Detailed information for primary site of salivary glands is listed in Table 3.

Table 3.

Information on site of salivary glands

Study	Year	Total ACC cases	Site		Node metastases (pN+) for MiSGs	Node metastases (pN+) for MaSGs
			MiSGs	MaSGs
Kruse et al24	2010	13	13	0	3	0
Mücke et al14	2010	33	33	0	8	0
Bhayani et al5	2012	30	0	30	0	7
Zhang et al23	2013	218	159	59	22	7
Amit et al7	2015	270	148	95	55	18
Mannelli et al21	2017	44	0	44	0	8
Hämetoja et al20	2017	17	17	0	4	—
Megwalu and Sirjani3	2017	720	0	720	0	126

Abbreviations: ACC, adenoid cystic carcinoma; MiSGs, minor salivary glands; MaSGs, major salivary glands.

Results of the pooled analysis

The forest plot (or blobbogram) for cervical lymph node overall metastases about ACC showed that the pooled ratio of cervical metastases was 16% (95% CI: 13–19) used a random effects model (Figure 2). The relevant Funnel plot revealed that the majority of articles were close to axis and there was no publication bias in these researches (Figure 3).

Figure 2.

Overall cervical metastases rate.

Figure 3.

Funnel plot of overall metastases rate.

The forest plot for cervical lymph node occult metastases about ACC indicated that the pooled frequency of occult metastases was 14% (95% CI: 9–20) used a random effects model (Figure 4). The corresponding Funnel plot revealed that the majority of articles were close to axis and there was no publication bias in these researches (Figure 5).

Figure 4.

Cervical lymph node occult metastases rate.

Figure 5.

Funnel plot of occult metastases rate.

The forest plot for cervical lymph node metastases about ACC of MiSGs showed that the pooled rate of cervical metastases was 25% (95% CI: 11–38) used a random effects model (Figure 6). The relevant Funnel plot indicated that the majority of articles were close to axis and there was no publication bias in these researches (Figure 7).

Figure 6.

Metastases rate of ACC of MiSGs.

Abbreviations: ACC, adenoid cystic carcinoma; MiSGs, minor salivary glands.

Figure 7.

Funnel plot of metastases rate of ACC of MiSGs.

Abbreviations: ACC, adenoid cystic carcinoma; MiSGs, minor salivary glands.

The forest plots for cervical lymph node metastases rate about ACC of MaSGs indicated that the pooled frequency of cervical metastases was 17% (95% CI: 15–20) used a fixed effects model (Figure 8). The corresponding Funnel plots indicated that there was no publication bias in these 4 researches (Figure 9).

Figure 8.

Metastases rate of ACC of MaSGs.

Abbreviations: ACC, adenoid cystic carcinoma; MaSGs, major salivary glands.

Figure 9.

Funnel plot of metastases rate of ACC of MaSGs.

Abbreviations: ACC, adenoid cystic carcinoma; MaSGs, major salivary glands.

Sensitivity analysis

Sensitivity analyses were carried out by deleting the data in the largest and minimum weight, respectively, to evaluate the stability of this meta-analysis. The merge frequency cervical lymph node overall metastases rate was 16% (95% CI: 13–19). The result was 16% (95% CI: 13–19), while the data in the largest weight² were deleted. When the data in the minimum weight²⁴ were removed, the result was 16% (95% CI: 13–19). Deleting the data of largest or minimum weight had a negligible influence, which indicated that the results were generally stable.

Discussion

ACC of the head and neck is an uncommon carcinoma; treatment includes surgery with or without adjuvant radiotherapy. The presence of cervical lymph node metastases has shown to be a common cause of treatment failure in patients with ACC of the head and neck.²⁷ Cervical lymph node metastasis has traditionally been regarded as a obviously uncommon occurrence. However, treatment of the neck is still debatable with ACC of head and neck as the reported incidence of lymph node metastasis varies widely, from 4% to 33%.^4–7 Therapeutic neck dissection is usually performed in cN+ status. But for patients with clinically node negative (cN–) status, it is uncertain whether to perform END. Amit et al reported an overall nodal metastases rate of 29.3% (79 of 270 patients) and an occult metastases incidence of 17.3% (39 of 226 patients) and suggested that elective neck treatment should be considered.⁷ Nobis et al strongly advised END for all patients with ACC because of the high rate (43.8%) of lymphogenic metastases for postoperative examination.²⁸ Lee et al concluded that END itself was not beneficial for survival or distant metastases but can provide valuable staging and prognostic information in ACC; in this reach, the overall nodal metastases rate was 18% (11 of 61 patients) and the occult metastases rate was 14% (8 of 57 patients).²⁵ On the other hand, Cao et al reported a nodal metastases rate of 7.9%, and in their opinions, selective neck dissection should be performed for patients who were found to have lymph node metastases by clinical or imaging.²⁹ Min et al advised that selective neck dissection should be considered in ACC of minor salivary glands as MiSGs have a higher ratio of lymph node metastases than MaSGs.²

In this research, we retrieved 18 articles about node metastases of ACC, and the overall metastases ratio of meta-analysis was 16%, which was lower than the metastatic risk of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck.^30–33 Pitman considered that for patients of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, an END should be performed if the probability of occult cervical metastases are higher than 15–20%.³⁴ Amit et al recommended END for patients with ACC when occult cervical metastases are higher than 15–20%, as practiced for those with squamous cell carcinoma.⁷ However, in this research, the pooled rate of occult cervical metastases is 14%, which is slightly lower than the standard rate (15–20% rate of occult cervical metastases) of END for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Thus, we suggest that neck dissection might not be always necessary for all patients with ACC of the head and neck to avoid complications such as postoperative shoulder disability and scar. But for patients without neck dissection, routine imaging methods such as neck ultrasonography and MRI should be considered for follow-up diagnosis; furthermore, period of follow-up should be shortened.

In our research, the tumor primary sites had been analyzed and the pooled metastases rates were 25% and 17% for ACC of MiSGs and MaSGs, respectively. The results are similar to those of Hämetoja et al²⁰ and Megwalu and Sirjani.³ Besides, Min et al studied 616 cases of head and neck ACC, identifying 62 (10%) cases of ACC with cervical lymph node metastasis. In those cases, primary tumor sites involving the base of tongue, mobile tongue and mouth floor were the highest incidences of cervical lymph nodes metastasis.² Similarly, in the study of Zhang et al, the reported incidence of cervical metastases was higher when primary tumor sites were situated at the mouth floor, sublingual and tongue.²³ These researches provide some favorable evidence for us. Despite this article lacking occult metastasis data, the overall metastases rate of MiSGs up to 25% is enough to attract our attention. Amit et al found that END is not associated with outcome of patients. But for patients with ACC of the oral cavity, their findings supported the consideration of elective neck treatment.^7,35 Lee et al observed that regional recurrence was identified in 4 patients with stage cN0 who did not undergo END, and in their opinion, proper therapeutic and END can achieve favorable regional control.²⁵ END could remove occult regional disease and provide a regional recurrence-free life for patients with ACC. In addition, END could provide valuable staging and prognostic information in ACC. Therefore, we suggest that patients with ACC of MiSGs especially involving the mouth floor, base of tongue, mobile tongue might perform neck dissection, which agreed with the opinions of Min et al² and Zhang et al.²³

There are a few articles on the correlation between END and prognosis of ACC in the head and neck; there have been no randomized controlled trials either. The existence of heterogeneity in this meta-analysis may relate to the quantity, quality and type of these articles. The quantity of researches about occult metastases is less. There are not enough data and articles about the relationship between histology or tumor growth patterns and nodal metastases for the meta-analysis. Most of the articles contained in this analysis are retrospective studies and even some with small sample sizes. Thus, more prospective studies or random clinical trials with larger sample sizes are expected in the future.

Conclusion

Lymphatic spread is generally less frequent with ACC than with mucosal squamous cell carcinoma. Pooled frequency of cervical lymph node occult metastases was 14% (95% CI: 9–20), which was slightly lower than the standard (15–20% rate of occult cervical metastases) for END for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Thus, END is unnecessary for all patients with salivary gland ACC of head and neck. Careful follow-up of cervical lymph node status is important, and the period of follow-up should be shortened. Moreover, compared with major salivary glands, minor salivary glands have a higher cervical lymph node metastases rate in ACC. The overall cervical lymph node metastases rate of MiSGs up to 25% is enough to attract our attention. Therefore, we suggest that neck dissection might be applied to ACC of minor salivary glands.