Salivary Gland Tumors in Turkey: Demographic Features and Histopathological Distribution of 510 Patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic and clinicopathologic data of salivary gland tumors managed at a tertiary referral medical center in Turkey. The data of 510 patients with salivary gland tumors managed during the period of January 1984 to May 2012, were reviewed. Only primary neoplasms derived from salivary glands were included. Out of 510 neoplasms, 352 (69.0 %) were classified as benign and 158 (31.0 %) were classified as malignant. There was a male predominance and male:female ratio was 1.23 (281/229). The most common location was parotid gland (372/510, 72.9 %) followed by minor salivary glands (97/510, 19.0 %) and submandibular gland (40/510, 7.9 %). The malignancy rates were 21.5, 40.0, and 56.7 % in parotid, submandibular, and minor salivary glands locations, respectively. The most common location for minor salivary gland neoplasms was oral cavity (61/97, 62.9 %). Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) was the most common histopathological type (45.3 %) in the whole study group and also among pediatric patients. The most common malignant neoplasms were adenoid cystic carcinoma (39/510, 7.6 %) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (5.7 %). Salivary gland tumors are more common in men. The malignancy rate is almost three times higher in neoplasms derived from minor glands when compared to parotid gland. PA is the most common histopathological tumor type in all locations and in all age groups.

SALIVARY GLANDS; CLINICAL & HISTOPATHOLOGICAL SPECTRUM OF ADENOID CYSTIC CARCINOMA & MUCOEPIDERMOID CARCINOMAS REPORTED AT TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS IN LAHORE

“…Regarding gender distribution in AdCC, some studies have reported male predisposition in contrast to the current study 1 while others have reported AdCC to be more prevalent in female population. 10 On the other hand, Zaman 12 have reported equal gender distribution for AdCC.…”

“…A study conducted in Turkey has reported mean age for AdCC and MEC to be 50.9 years and 51.6 years respectively which is quite higher than the current study. 1 Other studies conducted in Canada 10 and USA 11 study have reported 58±15 years and 48.2 years as mean age for ACC patients which is again quite high than the current study. Zaman 12 in Pakistan and de Oliveira 13 in Brazil have reported 36.33 years and 38.5 years respectively as the mean age of MEC which is closer to the current study.…”

“…1,12 In contrast, other studies have reported major salivary glands to be more common site for AdCC than minor salivary glands. 10,13 For MEC, the current study is in harmony with other studies in that major salivary glands, most commonly parotid gland, are more commonly affected than minor salivary glands.…”

“…Regarding the prevalence of these tumours, some studies have reported AdCC to be commonest while others have named MEC to be the commonest salivary gland malignancy. 1,2 Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a slow growing but aggressive tumour of the salivary glands with a prolonged clinical course and late distant metastasis. 3 Sixty percent AdCC arise from the minor salivary glands with palate as its most frequent site.…”

The dynamics of diagnosis of salivary gland tumours: histopathology matters

“…Literature shows that majority of salivary gland tumours arise in the parotid gland. 4 About 64 and 80% of all primary epithelial salivary gland neoplasms are seen in the parotid gland, followed by submandibular glands and minor salivary glands. However the incidence in minor salivary glands account for 9-23% of total tumours as per world literature.…”