Clinico-epidemiological profile of salivary gland tumours: An institutional study

Abstract

Salivary gland tumour (SGTs) is the complex group of heterogeneous entities that pose serious challenges to the pathologist, surgeons and oncologist SGTs demonstrate wide geographical variation, constituting 2-6% of all head and neck cancers and 0.5% of total body malignancies. Most SGTs are benign with 70% arising in major glands. Malignant SGTs comprise approximately with 15–35% of parotid gland, 41–45% of submandibular and 70–90% of sublingual glands.  SGTs have diverse histomorphology with 33 different tumours recognised by WHO, making diagnosis challenging. This study aimed to mitigate by accessing and analysing epidemiological data including demographic, clinical features and histological diagnoses of SGTs from tertiary regional cancer centre and government medical collegeThe retrospective study was included clinically and histopathological diagnosed 243 cases of SGTs from tertiary regional cancer centre, government medical college and government dental college.A total of 243 cases were analysed including 46% benign and 54% malignant tumours. A slight female predilection and peak incidence between the fifth and sixth decade for both benign and malignant tumours was observed. The majority (61%) of the SGT presented in minor and 39% in the major salivary glands. The parotid gland was the most common location for malignant SGT and minor glands for Benign SGT. Pleomorphic adenoma (38%), and Basal cell adenoma (31%), were the most common benign tumours whereas mucoepidermoid carcinoma (41%) and adenoid cystic carcinoma (32%) were the most frequent malignant tumours.A morphologic diagnostic approach combined with ancillary immunohistochemical and molecular tests provides a frame work for the differential diagnosis of salivary gland neoplasms.