Malignant tumors affecting minor salivary glands present a wide range of histopathologic types. The present study sought to design a protocol for management of patients with malignancy of minor salivary glands. The data of 22 patients with malignant tumors of the minor salivary glands, surgically treated at our department in the past 10 years, were accumulated and studied. All patients underwent a diagnostic workup prior to surgery. The most useful examinations were magnetic resonance imaging of the head and neck and computerized tomography of the thorax. Wide local excision was sufficient for the majority of patients. Adjuvant treatment is indicated for high-grade, tumor-positive lymph nodes and residual disease. Malignant tumors of minor salivary glands are very rare. Therefore, design of management protocols is challenging. Management of the neck is necessary in evidence of metastasis and in high-grade and advanced-stage disease. Adjuvant treatment should be included in the treatment protocol in certain indications. Most importantly, long-term follow up is very important for all patients with malignant minor salivary tumors. KEYWORDS: Minor salivary gland malignancy, adenoid cystic carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinomaMinor salivary glands (MSG) are numerous (700 to 900) exocrine glands, which are distributed in the submucosa of the oral cavity, nasopharynx, tonsils, hypopharynx, and larynx. 1-3 Heterotopic sites include lymph nodes, the thyroid gland, facial bones, and the hypophysis. 2 Neoplastic disorders of salivary glands are in general relatively rare and account for 3 to 6% of head and neck tumors. 3,4 The reported incidence of neoplastic lesions of MSG does not exceed 25% of all neoplasms of salivary origin. 2,4,5 However, most enlargements consist of malignant tumors, 2,5 as opposed to tumors of major salivary glands, which are mainly benign. 6 According to previous studies, 3 gender and race may differentiate the incidence and frequency of malignant MSG neoplasms. Malignant tumors of MSG tend to have varied

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