A clinical study of 27 submandibular gland tumors

Abstract

Twenty-seven cases of submandibular gland tumors treated in our department between 1982 and 2000 were reviewed. There were 20 benign and 7 malignant tumors. All of the benign tumors were pleomorphic adenomas (n=20). Two of the 7 malignant tumors were adenoid cystic carcinomas, 2 were adenocarcinomas, 2 were carcinoma et pleomorphic adenomas and one was high grade malignant mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Ultrasonography, CT, and/or MRI, was performed preoperatively. MRI is supposed to be more useful than other diagnostic imaging modalities. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) was performed in 20 cases, and its diagnostic accuracy for malignancy was 89.5%. Intraoperative frozen section examination was performed in 23 cases, and 17 of 18 benign cases and 1 of 5 malignant cases were in accord with the final pathological diagnosis. Extirpation of the submandibular gland and tumor, with resection of the adjacent connective tissue was performed in all cases. In the two adenocarcinoma cases, modified radical neck dissection and postoperative radiotherapy were added to the two adenocarcinoma cases. Postoperative radiotherapy was also performed in the mucoepidermoid carcinoma case. There was no recurence observed in any of the benign cases, and the 5-year-survival rate was 71% in the 7 malignant cases.