Malignant tumors of the salivary glands

The incidence of malignant salivary gland tumors is influenced by geographic and racial factors. Some etiological aspects and diagnostic pitfalls are discussed. The treatment of salivary gland malignancies is primarily surgical but the extent of the surgery should be dependent on the availability and application of routine postoperative high or supervoltage radiotherapy on a "regional" basis of invasive low-grade and all high-grade malignant tumors.