Salivary gland tumours: an analysis of 62 cases

Salivary gland tumors are rare entities among the patients with head and neck neoplastic lesions. Between January 1987 to August 1997, 62 patients with salivary gland tumors presented to the surgical department of Goa Medical College, which is a tertiary referral center for the region. These patients were analyzed with an aim to study the clinical and histopathological correlation. While no age predisposition for the malignancy was found, the parotid gland was the most common site for both malignant & benign tumors (69.35%), and the minor glands (4.8%) the least common. Apart from the presence of facial nerve involvement, pain and rapid growth were also the indicators of malignancy. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) proved to be a reliable method for management of these tumors. All the patients underwent surgery with minimal morbidity and no mortality. There was no identifiable association between smoking, alcohol intake and the occurrence of the salivary glands tumors.