Undifferentiated carcinoma of the salivary gland is a poorly differentiated or undifferentiated salivary gland carcinoma, whose histology is so atypical that it cannot be classified into any other type of malignant epithelial tumor of the salivary gland.

bubble_chart Pathological Changes

Microscopic examination reveals cancer cells that are round or spindle-shaped, with marked variation in size and morphology, scattered in arrangement, showing extreme atypia, frequent mitotic figures, and commonly accompanied by significant hemorrhage and necrosis.

bubble_chart Clinical Manifestations

The disease course is generally short, with rapid tumor growth and invasive expansion. Patients develop painful masses early on. When occurring in the parotid gland, it can quickly involve the facial nerve, leading to paralysis, adhesion to surrounding tissues, and a fixed mass. In advanced stages, skin involvement may cause ulceration, with a high rate of regional lymph node metastasis. Distant metastases may also occur, such as to the lungs, liver, bones, and other sites.

bubble_chart Treatment Measures

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the salivary glands shows some sensitivity to radiotherapy but is difficult to cure. Currently, combination therapies are commonly used, such as radiotherapy, radical surgical resection combined with chemotherapy, etc. Surgery often involves radical combined resection.

bubble_chart Prognosis

The prognosis of undifferentiated salivary gland carcinoma is extremely poor. Due to the rarity of this tumor type, there are limited reports on its survival rates both domestically and internationally. Blank reported that among 75 cases of poorly differentiated carcinoma occurring in the parotid gland, the 5-year survival rate was 32%, and the 10-year survival rate was only 18%.