Objective: In this retrospective study we want to present our long term results in the treatment of SACC.

Materials and methods: 47 patients treated at the University Clinic for Cranio-Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery and the University Clinic for Ear, Nose and Throat diseases of the Medical University of Vienna in the period from 1987 to 2010 due to SACC were analysed retrospectively. The collected data such as UICC staging, histologic subtype, perineural invasion, localization, resection margins and others were evaluated regarding their influence on the survival rate.

Results: Overall survival rate was 70.2% after 5 years and 36.1% after 10 years with a mean survival of 8.6 years. Disease-free survival rate was 38% after 5 years and 19% after 10 years with a mean recurrence-free survival of 4.05 years. The most decisive prognostic factors on overall survival were tumour size ( p = 0.002), lymph node status ( p = 0.005) and free resection margins ( p = 0.04).

Conclusion: Poor disease-free survival but high overall survival rates are typical for SACC with slow growth but high recurrence rates. Early detection as well as wide resection margins seem to be the most important factors for survival. Efficient adjuvant treatment modalities are desirable.