Intraoral cancer of the minor salivary glands

Intraoral minor salivary gland carcinomas are relatively uncommon. The glands are concentrated in the mucosa of the mouth but occur over a wide area in the head and neck region. Little is known about the etiologic factors responsible for these tumors. Histologically, most salivary gland tumors are similar to those occurring in the parotid gland, but are more likely to be malignant. The most common presentations is an asymptomatic submucosal mass on the palate in a patient in the fifth or sixth decade, although it can occur in any age group. Neck node metastases occur in about one fourth of these patients. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice; irradiation may be a useful adjunctive method of palliation. Multiple recurrences over a long period of time are the rule, with 5 year survival for all malignant lesions being 44.5 per cent. The survival decreases another 10 per cent for each succeeding 5-year period of follow-up.