MAJOR SALIVARY GLAND TUMORS: SINGLE INSTITUTION EXPERIENCE

Abstract

IntroductionThe study analyses the occurrence and treatment outcomes of tumors of the major salivary glands in our patients.Material and methodsBetween 2019 and March 2023, a total of 182 salivary gland surgeries were conducted at our clinic. Of these, 111 were on females aged 18 to 76 years, and 71 on males aged 18 to 82 years. Diagnosis comprised a medical history, otolaryngological physical examination, ultrasonography (USG), fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of tumor, laboratory tests (CBC, CRP), and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).ResultsPredominantly (176 patients), benign tumors and neoplasms were found in the parotid salivary gland. Histopathology most commonly revealed pleomorphic adenoma (PA, 74 cases) and Warthin’s tumor (WT, 70 cases). Other benign tumors and neoplasms made up only 18% of cases. Malignant neoplasms were only identified in the parotid salivary gland in 3.3% of cases; these were diagnosed as epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and ductal carcinoma.ConclusionsIn our dataset, most patients with tumors of the major salivary glands were operated on at ages above 60 years. A low incidence of malignant tumors and a high incidence of WT of the large salivary glands were observed. The main postoperative complication was facial nerve paresis in 7.6% of cases.