Abstract
IntroductionMalignant salivary gland tumours (MSGTs) comprise about 3% of all head and neck cancers; they demonstrate an unpredictable clinical course. The purpose of this study is to review MSGTs seen at a tertiary Health centre, and compare findings with those of previous studies.MethodsThe records of the Department of Oral Pathology and the Department of Pathology, University College Hospital Ibadan were reviewed over a 19 year period and lesions diagnosed as MSGTs according to 2005 WHO histological classification were analysed for age, gender and site using SPSS for Windows (version 20.0; SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL).ResultsMSGTs were more common in males (55.2%) than females (44.8%). The mean age of was 47.9 (±17.0) years and peak age was the fifth decade. The parotid gland was the commonest site with 62 (28.1%) cases. The palate was the commonest intraoral site with 61(27.6%). The nose with 19 (8.6%) was the commonest minor extra-oral site.ConclusionThe findings were essentially similar to reports from Europe and America. Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma was the most common MSGT in this series. A high proportion of salivary gland tumours in sublingual gland were malignant. The reason(s) for high proportion of MSGTs in sublingual glands requires further investigation.
Highlights
Malignant salivary gland tumours (MSGTs) comprise about 3% of all head and neck cancers; they demonstrate an unpredictable clinical course
The mean age of occurrence of MSGTs was 47.9 (±17.0) years and peak age incidence was in the fifth decade of life
MSGTs occurred more above the age of 40 years with 70.2% of cases seen in ages forty and above while only 29.8% occurred below the age of forty
Summary
Malignant salivary gland tumours (MSGTs) comprise about 3% of all head and neck cancers; they demonstrate an unpredictable clinical course. A high proportion of salivary gland tumours in sublingual gland were malignant. Malignant salivary gland tumours (MSGTs) comprise about 3% of all head and neck cancers and demonstrate an unpredictable clinical course marked by frequent locoregional failure and distant metastasis, often occurring years after diagnosis [1]. The aetiology of MSGTs is essentially unknown, high or prolonged doses of radiation to the head and neck have been shown to be risk factors for salivary gland cancers in previous studies [3]. The results of the demography of salivary gland tumours from previous studies have been somewhat varied. The purpose of this study was to review MSGTs seen at tertiary Health Centre and compare findings with those of previous studies
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