Salivary Gland Neoplasms in Indian Paediatric Population Visiting a Dental Institution

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: With a probability of 50% malignancy, salivary gland tumors are not too commonly noticed in children and adolescents. Most of these have idiopathic etiology but a few pre-disposing factors have been reported in literature. We hereby report eighteen cases of paediatric salivary gland tumors in a study conducted from September 2013 to August 2018 at department of Oral and maxillofacial surgery at Tatyasaheb Kore Dental college and Research Centre, Kohlapur, Maharashtra, India..AIM & OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to inspect the distribution, clinical and histopathological features of salivary gland tumours in children and adolescents.MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 18 cases of salivary gland tumors encountered in paediatric age group were studied and explored for age, gender, site proneness and for histopathological nature.RESULTS: Female gender had a predominance over males. Parotid tumors were more common (77.78%) as compared to tumors of submandibular glands. Six cases were diagnosed with benign tumors (pleomorphic adenoma) and rest had malignant tumors (mucoepidermoid in nature). Majority of the cases did not report undergoing any prior treatment.CONCLUSION Present study revealed that salivary gland tumors in paediatric age group are quite rare with female gender being more prone. With majority of cases being mucoepidermoid in nature, parotid gland is most commonly affected.