OBJECTIVES:
The purpose of this study was to determine the relative frequency and distribution of minor salivary gland tumors and to
provide data with respect to age, sex and anatomic location. To compare these data with epidemiologic findings from
different geographic locations.
STUDY DESIGN:
The retrospective records of the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Tamil Nadu Government Dental College
and Hospital, Chennai, south India, served as a source of material for this study. All cases of salivary gland tumors reported
over a period of 37 years were retrieved and reviewed.
RESULTS:
Minor salivary gland tumors accounted for 185 cases (1.52% of all oral lesions) with a steady increase in the incidence rate.
The malignant tumors (75.1%) were predominant over the benign tumors (24.9%). The tumors were distributed over a wide
age range, with a mean age of 46.11±13.92 years and a peak incidence in the fifth and sixth decades of life. Male
predominance was observed with a male to female ratio of 1.12:1. Palate (48.6%) was the most commonly involved site.
Pleomorphic adenoma (21.6%) was the most common benign tumor and the most common malignant tumor was
mucoepidermoid carcinoma (34.1%) followed by adenoid cystic carcinoma (15.7%) and polymorphous low-grade
adenocarcinoma (9.7%).
CONCLUSION:
The present study reports a higher incidence (1.52%) of minor salivary gland tumors compared to other studies, with a
predominance of malignant tumors. Our study observed both regional and geographic variation in the frequency and
distribution of MSGT
