Abstract

NOBREGA, Marília Queiroga Rocha da et al. Minor salivary gland neoplasms: retrospective study of 83 cases. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) [online]. 2010, vol.58, n.3, pp. 357-362. ISSN 1981-8637.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and histopathological findings of minor salivary gland neoplasms recorded in the files of the Anatomic Pathology Service of the Discipline of Oral Pathology of the Department of Dentistry of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. METHODS: Data regarding age and gender of the patients and location of the minor salivary gland tumors diagnosed between January 1970 and December 2007 were taken from biopsy request forms. The histopathological study consisted of tissue sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin assessed under a light microscope. RESULTS: Eighty-three cases were identified, of which 69.9% were females. The mean age of patients with malignant neoplasms (47.6 years) was higher than that of patients with benign neoplasms (40.7 years). The most common sites were: palate (43.4%), buccal mucosa (10.8%), upper lip (10.8%) and alveolar ridge (10.8%). The three most common histological types were: pleomorphic adenoma (38.6%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (18.1%) and adenoid cystic carcinoma (13.3%). CONCLUSION: Minor salivary gland tumors are more common in females. Patients with malignant neoplasms presented higher mean age at diagnosis. The most common histological type was pleomorphic adenoma, followed by mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma. Together, these three neoplasms accounted for 70% of all diagnosed tumors.

Keywords : epidemiology; minor salivary glands; neoplasms.