Salivary Gland Adenomas of the Palate

Abstract

A histological survey of 383 tumours primary in the palate revealed a salivary gland tumour in 170 cases; 95 benign and 75 malignant. The benign tumours were all adenomas, 61 of pleomorphic and 34 of monomorphic type. Three of the 75 malignant cases were denoted as carcinomas in pleomorphic adenoma. The incidence of monomorphic adenomas is higher in the palate than in the parotid and subman-dibular glands. Lack of encapsulation was found a common feature but was not considered a histological sign of malignancy. In 88 patients with adenomas followed up for 5–45 years, local recurrences arose in 7 cases, in 5 with pleomorphic and in 2 with monomorphic adenoma. None of the patients with a salivary gland adenoma had metastasis or died of the tumour disease. There was no difference in the clinical outcome between patients with pleomorphic and monomorphic adenomas. Two of the 3 patients with carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma succumbed to metastasizing tumour and the third patient died of in-tercurrent disease. Pleomorphic and monomorphic adenomas of the palate were found to be benign tumours. A large number of the tumours, however, lacked a well defined fibrous capsule, thus involving a risk of recurrence after surgical removal of the tumour. Because of this and since benign salivary gland adenomas in the palate could not clinically be distinguished from such with a malignant component (cancer in pleomorphic adenoma) the importance of primary radical surgery and careful histological examination of the operation specimen is stressed.