[Tumors of salivary glands: anatomical study and clinical epidemiology of a series of 180 cases].

BACKGROUND

The salivary gland tumors are rare (less than 3% of all tumors) and poorly known. In fact, they are numerous and histologically difficult to diagnose.

AIM

This work aims to point at the different histological types of salivary gland tumors, to draw out the principal epidemiological, clinical, radiological and histological characteristics, and to compare our cases to those of the literature.

METHODS

Accordingly, we performed a descriptive type study about 180 cases of salivary gland tumors from the departments of pathology and oto-rhino-laryngology of Habib Thameur hospital during 25 years, extending from April 1979 to December 2004.

RESULTS

Benign tumors were predominant (88%), while malignant ones represented 12% of our cases dominated by carcinomas. The sex-ratio was 0.96. Parotid gland location was the most frequent one, and pleomorphic adenoma was the most frequent tumor (62%).

CONCLUSION

Histological diversity of salivary tumors results in difficulties for differential diagnosis. These problems can be solved by a precise diagnostic approach and sometimes by an immunohistochemistry study.