Abstract

The author has studied the 111 cases of salivary gland epithelial tumors which confirmed clinically and pathologically during the period of 11 years and 7 months from 1973 to 1984 at Pusan National University Hospital. The results of the study were summarized as follows: 1) Among 111 cases of salivary gland epithelial tumors, benign tumors were 72 cases (64.9%) and malignant tumors 39 cases (35.1%). The male to female ratio of overall salivary gland epithelial tumors was 1 to 1.6. Mean age of benign tumors was 39.6 years old and that of malignant tumors 44.6. 2) The analysis of the salivary gland epithelial tumors in histologic type revealed 63 cases (56.8%) of pleomorphic adenoma, 14 cases (12.6%) of the mucoepidermoid carcinoma, 11 cases (9.9%) of adenoid cystic carcinoma, 4 cases (3.6%) of adenolymphoma and adenocarcinoma, respectively. 3) The incidence of salivary gland epithelial tumors was found to be in the major salivary gland in 62 cases (56.9%), in the major salivary gland in 47 cases (43.1%), preferably involving parotid gland in 38 cases (34.9%), palate in 29 cases (26.6%), submandibular gland in 20 cases (18.3%) in order of frequency. 4) The mean size of benign salivary gland epithelial tumors was 3.5 cm in diameter and that of malignant 3.6 cm. Therefore, that size of both benign and malignant tumors was not significantly different. The mean duration of chief complaints of salivary gland epithelial tumors was 5 years and 3 months in benign type, 2 years and 4 months in malignant type, approximately half of the benign tumors. 5) The most frequent manifestation in malignant tumors was palpable mass 89.7%(benign : 97.2%), pain 23.1%, ulcer and hemorrhage 15.4%, respectively, et al., whereas, that of benign tumors was exophthalmos 5.6%, ulcer 4.2%, et al. In order of frequency. 6) Among the 67 cases of pleomorphic adenoma, 4 cases (6.0%) of them were malignant type.