[The influence of therapy on adenoid cystic carcinomas of the parotid gland (author's transl)].

The occurrence of adenoid cystic carcinomas of the parotid gland is relatively uncommon. From 1964-1974, we performed surgery on 20 patients with such tumors. In these patients, the course of the disease was characterized by local recurrences, the formation of hematogeneous metastases, and long survival times. We have found that patient prognosis is distinctly influenced by the histological type of the neoplasm. Thus, the tubular form has a much better prognosis than the cribriform or the solid types of tumors. On the basis of the "determinate survival rate" of our patients, we were unable to demonstrate a definite positive effect of either radical surgery or radiation therapy on the course of the disease.