Tumors of minor salivary glands and the analysis of 106 cases

Abstract

This study is based on 106 cases of predominantly minor salivary gland tumors which were received at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry Department of Oral Pathology Biopsy Service from 1972 to 1995. (In this study), 55% of the cases were benign and 45% were malignant. Benign tumors include pleomorphic adenoma (68%), monomorphic adenoma (10%), oncocytoma/oncocytosis (7%), papillary cystadenoma (14%), and myoepithelioma (2%). Of the malignant tumors, 34% were mucoepidermoid carcinoma, 17% adenoid cystic carcinoma, 21% adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified (N.O.S.), 21% polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma, and 6% malignant mixed tumors. There was no difference in relative incidence of benign or malignant tumors between males and females. The 7th decade was the peak occurrence age for both benign and malignant and the palate was the most frequent location.