Pathological study of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors

Abstract EN

Objective: To carry out a retrospective analysis of all benign and malignant tumors of major and minor salivary glands which were diagnosed at King Hussein Medical Center during the years between 2000 and 2006.

Methods: A total of 127 patients diagnosed to have salivary gland tumors were retrieved from our histopathology data records between 2000 and 2006.

Most patients were originally treated at King Hussein Medical Center, and some at one of the peripheral military hospitals.

All cases were analyzed according to their sex and age distribution as well as the frequency of various histopathological types and their anatomical sites.

Results: Of the 127 cases 84.3% of tumors were benign and 15.7% were malignant.

The mean age of the benign neoplasms was 43.3 years, and most of these tumors were seen between the fourth and sixth decade of life.

The mean age for the malignant neoplasms was 51.1 years, and most cases were in the sixth decade of life.

There was a male predominance in both benign and malignant salivary gland neoplasms.

Among the benign salivary gland tumors, the most frequent histological type was pleomorphic adenoma (57.9%) followed by Warthin’s tumor (35.5%).

Adenoid cystic carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma were the most frequently encountered malignant tumors accounting for 90% of all malignant tumors.

The most commonly involved salivary gland for benign and malignant tumors was the parotid gland.

Of the minor salivary gland tumors, the most frequently affected site was the palate (65%), and the most frequent tumor encountered was pleomorphic adenoma (55%).

Conclusion: Salivary gland tumor is a subject of considerable interest because of its not uncommon occurrence and varied histological pattern.

This study describes the pathological features of salivary gland tumors in Jordan.

The findings are in agreement with results of most previously published research studies.