P106. A retrospective analysis of salivary gland neoplasms: Our experience

Abstract

Introduction: Salivary gland neoplasms represent less than 1% of all tumours and 3.5% of all head and neck neoplasms. They constitute a heterogeneous group of neoplasms characterized by a broad range of histological types. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relative frequency and distribution of salivary gland tumours and to provide data with reference to age, sex and the distribution of these tumours reported in the Department of Oral Pathology, V.S. Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore, South India from 1997 to 2010. Methods: Salivary gland tumours were retrieved from the pool of oral biopsy specimens submitted to the Department of Oral Pathology, V.S. Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore. The data pertaining to age, sex, location and histopathological types of these tumours was collected. Results: Of the total biopsies retrieved during the 13-year period (1997–2010), there were 33 cases of salivary gland tumours. Of these, only 2 cases (6.06%) presented in the submandibular gland and the remaining 31 cases occurred in the intra-oral minor salivary glands. The demographic distribution of these tumours is illustrated in the table given below. Histopathological analysis showed that of the 33 cases, 11 cases (34.4%) were Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and 2 of these were high grade tumours. There were 9 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma (28.1%), 8 cases of pleomorphic adenoma (25%) and 1 case each of Polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma, salivary duct carcinoma and canalicular adenoma. The distribution of the above cases is illustrated in the following pie chart (Table 2). Discussion and conclusion: This retrospective study, over a period of 13 years, evaluates the clinical and histopathological characteristics of salivary gland tumours retrieved from the archives of our department with respect to age, sex and site distribution of tumours. Each neoplasm showed variation in age, sex, and site distribution. The majority of the neoplasms were intra-oral in location. Moreover, rare variants were also encountered. Of the 33 tumours, 17 cases were treated by wide surgical excision, some in combination with adjuvant therapy.