[Major salivary gland disorders in children and adolescents]

The aim of this study was a review of 67 children treated for salivary gland tumors in the ENT Department Medical University of Gdańsk since 1974 to 2008. In that group we observed 52 children with tumor of the parotid gland, 13 with tumor of submandibular gland and 2 with subligual gland tumors. Tumor-like lesions were stated the largest group of tumors and were observed in 33 (49%) of children, mainly of chronic sialadenitis (17 cases). Predominant number of tumors was observed in scholarship children. The most common symptoms were slow enlargement of tumor and swelling of the salivary gland. In the group of benign tumors most common was pleomorphic adenoma (19 cases) and in the group of malignant tumors most common was clear cell carcinoma (2 cases) and rhabdomyosarcoma (2 cases). In this report the authors describe basic epidemiological and clinical data (age, sex, duration of symptoms, histological structure of tumor, diagnostic methods, methods and results of treatment) and observations connected with differences of salivary gland tumors in that group of patients.