A Clinicopathologic Study of Salivary Gland Neoplasms in a South- South Nigerian Population

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence, age, gender, orofacial sites and histopathologic types of neoplastic salivary gland tumours (SGTs) in a South-South Nigerian population.

Methods: This was a 26-year retrospective review of patients' records, histopathology reports and slides of diagnosed cases of neoplastic salivary gland tumours in the Department of Oral Pathology/Medicine and Department of Morbid Anatomy, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City Nigeria.

Results: A total of 179 (1.6%) cases of neoplastic salivary gland tumours among the 11,050 diagnosed neoplasms, and 12.1% of 1480 orofacial tumours. The peak occurrence was observed in the year 2005. The peak age group was third decade of life (n=41, 22.9%). There were 116 (64.8%) female and male 63 (35.2%) giving a ratio of 1.8:1. The major salivary glands (n=110, 61.4%) were mostly affected, with the parotid gland accounting for 69 (38.5%) cases and the palatal glands (n=59, 33.0%) was the most commonly affected minor salivary gland. There was a reversal of the ratio of benign to malignant tumours from 1.2:1 to 1:1.1 in the latter half of the study period (2003-2015). Pleomorphic adenoma (n=80, 44.7%) and adenocystic carcinoma (n=26, 14.5%) were the most benign and malignant SGT respectively in this study.

Conclusion: A low prevalence of SGTs was observed among all neoplasms, while a relatively higher prevalence of SGTs was observed among orofacial tumours in this study. The surge in the prevalence of malignant SGT observed in this study supports the need for early assessment of persistent parotid or palatal swellings to ensure early diagnosis and treatment of malignant SGTs.

Keywords: Benign, malignant, prevalence, salivary gland tumour