Salivary gland tumours in Kenya

Four hundred and seventeen tumours of salivary glands in Kenya were analysed. There is no evidence of higher incidence of salivary tumours than in non-African countries. The pattern of distribution differed from that of western countries, but in conformity with most African series showed a low proportion of tumours of the parotid gland and high proportion of tumours in the submandibular gland and the palate. The involvement of the palate by salivary gland tumour is very prominent in the African series and particularly more so in the females. Malignant tumours of the palate and parotid glands were frequent but were lower than those reported in other African series. On the other hand malignant salivary gland tumours of the submandibular glands while lower than those of the western countries, were higher than those of other African series.