To review our experience in managing primary lymphoma of the major salivary glands by analysing the treatment modality of patients.

In this study, we reviewed the medical records of 26 patients with primary malignant lymphoma of the major salivary glands who were treated at Beijing Stomatological Hospital of Capital Medical University from January 1999 to March 2015. The predictor variable was treatment modality. The outcome variables were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), disease-special survival (DSS) and local control (LC). Other relevant variables were as follows: age, sex, pathological pattern, tumour site, clinical features, source, IPI and Ann-Arbor stage. The data were analysed by the χ² test, log-rank test, and univariate analysis.

Of the 26 patients, 14 received surgery only, four received initial surgery combined with adjuvant radiotherapy, five received adjuvant chemotherapy, and three received adjuvant radiochemotherapy. During the median follow-up period of 104 months, the overall estimates of OS, DFS, DSS and LC were 84.6, 84.6, 88.5 and 92.3%, respectively. Good outcomes were achieved in patients who received surgery combined with postoperative RT, followed by surgery only. MALT lymphoma had a better prognosis than the other pathological patterns. Mass, swelling, pathological pattern and Ann-Arbor stage were important prognostic factors.

Surgery combined with postoperative radiotherapy may be an appropriate choice for patients with MALT lymphoma. The pathological pattern, mass, swelling and Ann-Arbor stage were associated with an unfavourable prognosis.