Epidemiology of salivary gland tumours in an Eastern Caribbean nation: A retrospective study

Abstract

Objective

The epidemiology of the salivary glands tumour is not well documented in the Caribbean countries. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the local trend of salivary gland tumours with a review of current diagnostic techniques.

Design & Methods

Retrospective data was collected from the electronic database at the Pathology department of the San Fernando Teaching Hospital between the periods January 2005 to June 2015. All patients who underwent primary resection of either the parotid, submandibular or minor salivary glands for diagnosed tumour cytologically or suspected tumour were included in this study. The clinical and histopathological data were then collected and analyzed.

Results

A total of 85 surgeries were performed for suspected or diagnosed neoplasia, 54 parotidectomies, 26 submandibular gland and 5 minor salivary gland excisions. The benign neoplastic lesions, pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin's tumour, were the most common 53 (62.4%) of all the resections performed, followed by non-neoplastic lesions 25 (29.4%) such as sialadenitis, cysts or normal glands. Malignant neoplasms made up the minority with only 7 cases whereby mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the most common malignant neoplasm found followed by squamous cell carcinoma.

Conclusion

Parotid gland remains the most frequent site of salivary gland tumours (80%), with pleomorphic adenoma being the most common benign tumour. Triple assessment is still required to manage these cases adequately with stress on preoperative tissue diagnosis FNAB vs USS guided core biopsy.

Highlights

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  Salivary gland tumours are very rare of all head and neck tumours.

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  Parotid gland remains the most frequent site of salivary gland tumours (80%).

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  Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign tumour of the parotid gland with a slight male predominance.

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  Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common malignant neoplasm of the parotid gland in contrast to worldwide data in which muco-epidermoid and adenoid cystic carcinomas are the most common.

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  Triple assessment is required to manage these cases adequately with stress on preoperative tissue diagnosis by FNAC or USS guided core biopsy.