Background and Objectives: Minor salivary gland tumors vary in their primary sites, histopathology and biological behavior. Therefore, various factors are considered in selecting the treatment modality and predicting the prognosis. We performed this study for the purpose of getting further understanding and more supporting ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of minor salivary gland tumor.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of the patients with 52 cases of minor salivary gland tumor who were treated at the Hanyang University Hospital from 1996 to 2003 was performed. We analyzed demography, symptoms, histopathology, treatment and outcomes by the review of medical records.
Results: Among 52 cases of minor salivary gland tumor, 46% were classified as benign and 54% were classified as malignant tumors. The most common benign tumor was pleomorphic adenoma. Adenoid cystic carcinoma(15/28) was the most common in malignant tumors. Eight patients were males and sixteen patients were females in benign tumors and 10 patients were males and 18 patients were females in malignant tumors. The most common site of benign tumor was the palate(17/22), whereas malignant tumors were most common in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus(9/28). Asymptomatic mass was the most common symptom. According to the criteria given by the AJCC on staging, stage III and IV(21/28) were more common than stage I and 11(7/28). All benign tumors were treated with simple excision and had no recurrence. In malignant tumors, 25 patients underwent radical excisional operation and 13 patients of them had postoperative radiation therapy. Three of them were treated with additional chemotherapy. In whom treated with radical operation, 9 patients had recurrence. Three were recurred at the primary site with neck node metastasis, 3 were recurred at the primary site with lung metastasis, 1 was recurred at the primary site with neck node and lung metastasis, 1 was recurred only at neck node.
Conclusion: In minor salivary gland tumor, malignant was more common than benign. Malignant tumor originated from minor salivary gland were more frequently diagnosed at advanced stage with high recurrence rate and distant metastasis. Early detection of the disease is needed to improve the prognosis of the patients with malignant tumors of the minor salivary glands.
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