Intra-oral salivary gland neoplasms: a retrospective study of 98 cases

The findings of a retrospective study of 98 minor salivary neoplasms are reported. The patient's ages ranged from 13-79 years and there was an equal sex distribution. Sixty-one of the lesions were benign, 53 being pleomorphic adenomas and 8 monomorphic adenomas. Of the malignant tumors, 19 were muco-epidermoid tumors, 12 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 4 adenocarcinomas, 1 carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma and 1 epidermoid carcinoma. One striking finding was the difference in age at the time of presentation for patients with muco-epidermoid tumors compared with those with adenoid cystic carcinomas. Seventy-four percent of the patients with muco-epidermoid tumors were under 50 years of age, but 75% of those with adenoid cystic carcinomas were over 50 years.