Tumors of the Major Salivary Glands

Abstract

One-hundred and eight cases of major salivary gland tumors and allied conditions treated in the Department of Otolaryngology, Mie University Hospital were reviewed according to the classification of the World Health Organization (WHO) and analyzed in terms of mode of presentation, diagnostic technique, treatment and end results.It was shown that the commonly involved salivary gland was the parotid gland and the most prevalent tumor was pleomorphic adenoma. Of the 108 cases, 81 were parotid tumor cases, and the ratio of benign to malignant tumors was 2.37:1. The remaining cases were tumors of submandibular and sublingual gland origin, and the ratio of benign to malignant was 1.71:1.We have principally performed enucleation surgery for all the benign parotid tumors, except six cases in which either superficial lobectomy or total lobectomy was performed. For malignant parotid tumors, enucleation surgery was performed in 9 cases, superficial lobectomy in two cases and total lobectomy in 10 cases. Of the above 21 cases, irradiation was added in 4 cases, combination therapy of irradiation and chemotherapy was administered in 11 cases. For all the cases of the tumor of the submandibular gland or sublingual gland, total extirpation of the gland with the tumor was performed.In accordance with the proposal of the American Joint Committee for Cancer Staging and End Results Reporting (1975), staging of 17 cases with malignant parotid tumors, which were followed more than one year, was determined. The five-year survival rate according to the stage was found to be 100% for T1N0M0, 75% for T2N0M0, 0% for T3N0M0, 0% for T3N1M0 and 0% for T3N1M1.The literature on new diagnostic procedures, treatment and prognosis was reviewed.