Incidence and prognosis of salivary—gland tumours at different sites a study of parotid, submandibular and palatal tumours in 2632 patients

Abstract

In a histological re—examination and re—classification of 2632 palpable lesions of the parotid, submandibular and palate regions, 2311 exhibited the structures characteristic of true salivary—gland tumours. Tumours originating in the various major and minor salivary glands have essentially similar histological features. The relative incidence of the different types of true salivary—gland tumours and their prognosis have been shown to vary with their location. One out of six salivary—gland tumours in the parotid gland, one of three in the submandibular gland and almost half of the tumours in the palate proved to be malignant. A long—term clinical follow—up study revealed a difference in prognosis for a given type of malignant salivary—gland tumour at various sites. The prognosis seems best when the primary tumour is located in the palate, less favourable when it is in the parotid gland, and least favourable in the submandibular gland.