Surgery of sublingual and minor salivary gland cancer: REFCOR recommendations by the formal consensus method.

Objective: To determine the indications and modalities for resection in the management of primary sublingual and minor salivary gland cancer, and the specific features of each primary location.

Material and methods: The French Network of Rare Head and Neck Tumors (REFCOR) formed a steering group who drafted a narrative review of the literature published on Medline and proposed recommendations. The level of adherence to the recommendations was then assessed by a rating group, according to the formal consensus method.

Results: Histological evidence (submucosal biopsy) is recommended before surgical treatment of minor salivary gland carcinoma. Surgical treatment is recommended, with optimal oncologic margins, adapted to anatomical factors, histologic type and grade and functional consequences, with reconstruction if necessary.

Conclusion: Treatment of primary minor salivary and sublingual gland cancer is surgical, with wide resection margins. The modalities of resection and reconstruction are highly dependent on tumor location, extension and histologic type.