Abstract Background. Salivary glands present a wide diversity in histopathologic types and biologic behaviors, thus complicating the search for prognostic factors. Methods. We compared 2 prognostic scores that were previously published for patients with parotid carcinoma in a retrospective series of 175 patients treated in a single institution. Results. Cox multivariate analysis indicated clinical skin invasion, facial nerve function, and perineural growth as the most significant recurrent disease‐related prognostic factors. According to the Vander Poorten score, 148 patients were divided into 4 groups, with the 5‐year disease‐free survival of 76%, 81%, 69%, and 35%, respectively. In the Carrillo's score, the patients were divided into 3 groups: low‐risk, intermediate‐risk, and high‐risk, with the 5‐year disease‐free survival of 84%, 73%, and 34%, respectively. Conclusion. Carrillo's score showed more distinct survival curves, and determination of groups with a more favorable prognosis was difficult for both scores. Therefore, both scores were not totally reproducible for our group of patients. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009