Incidence and distribution of different histopathological types of salivary gland tumors in Southeastern Serbia: A three-year unicentre retrospective study

Abstract

Introduction: Salivary gland tumors represent a group of heterogeneous lesions. In Serbia, data on salivary gland tumors, their incidence, and the distribution of certain histopathological types are scarce. Aim was to present data on salivary gland tumours in Southeast Serbia. Material and Methods: A clinical retrospective study was used to analyse data from the medical records of patients with salivary gland tumors treated at the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery of the Dental Clinic in Niš, from 2012 to 2014. Results: In the case of benign tumors, Warthin's tumor occurred more often in men, and pleomorphic adenoma in women. Considering the significantly lower number of malignant tumors, no statistically significant differences in their frequency of occurrence between men and women were found. In the small salivary glands, the incidence of tumors was significantly lower, and no statistically significant differences were found in the involvement of individual glands. Salivary gland tumors occurred with a similar frequency in men and women of all ages. Malignant tumors were more common in the elderly, while benign tumors occurred more often in the middle decades of life. The occurrence of benign and malignant tumors did not differ between the sexes. Conclusion: Benign tumors of the salivary glands are far more common than malignant ones, and that both occur more often in the large salivary glands. The most common benign tumors are Warthin's tumor and pleomorphic adenoma, and the most common malignant tumors are mucoepidermoid carcinoma and salivary duct carcinoma in the general population.