Salivary gland tumours in Ibadan, Nigeria: a study of 295 cases

Abstract

Over a period of 21 years 295 primary salivary gland epithelial tumours were collected and studied. These tumours constituted 2.8% of all head and neck tumours seen at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. over the same period. Two hundred and one (68.1%) were in the major glands and 94 (31.9%) were in the minor intra-oral glands, with the parotid and palatal glands being most frequently involved. There was no statistically significant difference in the sex ratio, and the incidence of tumour gradually increased with age to a peak during the 4th decade. Pleomorphic adenoma was the commonest benign lesion while mucoepidermoid and adenoid cystic carcinomas were the common malignant lesions seen, and were more prevalent in older males. Unlike in other African studies, adenolymphoma, acinic cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and undifferentiated carcinoma types were all identified.