Retrospective analysis of intra-oral salivary gland tumours in Ibadan, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Salivary gland neoplasms constitute an important group of intraoral tumours, with their malignant histological types being the second most frequently diagnosed intraoral malignancy. The incidence as well as the anatomical distribution of this heterogeneous group of neoplasms varies from one racial group and geographical location to the other. However, studies from Africa on intraoral salivary gland neoplasms are relatively sparse in the medical literature.

OBJECTIVE

To report the frequency and anatomical distribution of the various histological types of minor salivary gland neoplasms diagnosed at the University College Hospital, Ibadan and to provide data for comparison with other epidemiological findings in different geographic locations.

METHODS

A retrospective study of intraoral salivary gland neoplasms diagnosed at the University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan between January I991- December 2007. Included in the study were charts of patients with minor salivary glands in the mouth. Information obtained about each patient included age, sex, tumour location and histological classification based on the 1991 WHO recommendations.

RESULTS

Of a total of 309 neoplasms of salivary gland origin, 92 were from the intra-oral minor salivary glands constituting 4.5% of head and neck neoplasm. There was no significant gender predilection. Fifty-seven (62%) cases were malignant, while 35 (38%) were benign. The most frequently diagnosed tumour was adenoid cystic carcinoma 35(38%), followed by pleomorphic adenoma 30(32.6%). About 73% of the salivary gland neoplasms affected the palate, followed by the buccal mucosa (16.3%). Patients with malignant neoplasms were about 10 years older than those with benign tumours (p=0.012).

CONCLUSION

A large proportion of intraoral salivary gland neoplasms are malignant, the most frequently affected site being the palate.