Salivary gland malignancies in children

Abstract

Malignant salivary gland neoplasms in children are rare. Such tumors usually occur in the parotid gland of older children. Sixteen cases of major salivary gland malignancy are reviewed, 14 occurring in the parotid gland and two in the submandibular gland. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was the most common malignancy encountered, occuring in five patients; four have died of disease. Low‐grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma occurred in three patients and all remain alive and free of disease. An assorted variety of other cancers occurred in eight patients. One child died of reticulum cell sarcoma of the parotid gland, and two children have died of adenocarcinoma. The remaining five patients remain alive and free of disease. Salivary gland malignancies in children appear to have similar biological activity as those occurring in adults. Such tumors must be treated according to the same principles generally accepted for management of salivary gland malignancies in adults.

Minor salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma in children and adolescents: a case series and review of the literature

“…The current series supports the opinions that MEC in children appears to be somewhat more innocuous than in adults and that the probability of death for children with low-grade MEC is essentially zero [44]. However, others believe that malignant salivary gland malignancies in children exhibit biologic behavior similar to those occurring in adults and therefore require the same treatment principles as those occurring in adults [45,46]. Nevertheless, close clinical follow-up should be long-term, as outlined by April et al .…”

Management of Malignant Submandibular Gland Tumors

“…Malignant submandibular gland neoplasms in children are very rare (5,78). Neoplasms of the submandibular gland usually present as a painless mass without signs or symptoms suggestive of infection (79).…”

“…In most cases this will entail elective postoperative irradiation if the primary tumor is to be irradiated after surgery, but in cases where positive nodal disease is discovered at the time of operation, a therapeutic neck dissection should be added. Submandibular gland malignancies in children are distinctly rare and are generally treated according to the same principles accepted for management of the corresponding tumors in adults (78). Castro et al (94) reviewed 2135 children with salivary tumors, 17 of whom had a malignant histology (mucoepidermoid, n0/15; acinic cell, n0/2).…”

Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma in a Minor Salivary Gland in a Child

“…5% of these tumors occur in patients younger than 18 years old with girls mostly affected, while its occurrence in newborns is exceedingly rare [6, 9–11]. Malignancy seen in salivary gland tumors is 50% in children and 15–25% in adults [12]. …”