Clinicopathological analysis of benign salivary gland tumours – A study of 242 cases at AFIP Rawalpindi (Pakistan)

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the clinicopathological aspects of benign salivary gland tumours.

Material & Methods:  This descriptive case series study was carried out from Jan 2003 to Dec 2009 at Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi, (Pakistan). All cases of benign salivary gland tumours of seven years (from 2003 to 2009) were retrieved from the AFIP departmental records, the slides were reviewed and their diagnoses were reconfirmed. The data regarding all the major and minor salivary gland tumour was analyzed by using computer soft ware program SPSS (version 17). The descriptive statistics and frequency was calculated for type of tumours, age, gender, site and size. Association of all these parameters with the type of tumour was calculated by using chi square test.

Results: The most common histological tumour type found was Pleomorphic adenoma, followed by Myoepithelioma. All these cases presented between 12 and 85 years of age (mean 39.71±16.91) mostly in the 3^rd and 4^th decades of life with 48.7% males and 51.3% females respectively. The most frequent site involved by these tumours was parotid gland (66.5%). Submandibular gland, minor salivary glands of palate and lip were the other sites involved, but none of the tumour was found in sublingual gland. The tumour size ranged between 0.4 to 18 cm with maximum variation in Pleomorphic adenoma and Myoepithelioma.

Conclusion: Benign salivary gland neoplasms are more common than their malignant counterparts. They occur mostly in 3^rd and 4^th decade. Parotid gland is the most common site and pleomorphic adenoma remains the most common benign salivary gland neoplasm followed by myoepithelioma.  

Key Words: Salivary gland tumours, Pleomorphic adenoma, Myoepithelioma, Parotid gland.