Submandibular gland excision: a 16 year clinicopathological review of cases in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Abstract

AbstractAim: This study presents a review of the clinicopathological features of excised submandibular glands over a 16 year period of time at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.Materials and methods: A retrospective review of excised submandibular glands over a period of 16 years (January 1990 to December 2005) was conducted. Parameters studied included: age and gender of patients, symptoms and duration of symptoms and histologic diagnosis.Results: A total of 47 patients had their submandibular gland excised during the period of the study. There were 28 men and 19 women (men : women ratio of 1.5:1). Mean age [standard deviation (SD)] of patients at presentation was 40.5 ± 18.1 years (range, 13–84 years). There were 34 (72%) histologically diagnosed neoplasms and 13 (28%) non‐neoplastic pathologies. Patients with neoplastic pathologies were significantly older than those with non‐neoplastic pathologies (P = 0.004). The most common neoplasm was pleomorphic adenoma (35%), followed by adenocystic carcinoma (12%) and anaplastic carcinoma (12%). Chronic sialadenitis with or without sialolithiasis (85%) was the most common non‐neoplastic pathology.Conclusion: The most common submandibular salivary gland pathology that necessitated surgical excision, in our institution, was neoplasia, predominately pleomorphic adenomas. The most common non‐neoplastic pathology was chronic sialadenitis with or without sialolithiasis.