Epithelial salivary tumors in Sri Lanka: a retrospective study of 713 cases.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic data to determine the distribution of epithelial salivary tumors, especially minor salivary tumors, in Sri Lanka.


METHODS
A total of 713 salivary tumors diagnosed at the Department of Oral Pathology, during the period from 1990 to 2007 were reviewed.


RESULTS
Out of the 713 epithelial salivary tumors, 356 (49.9%) were classified as benign and 357 (50.1%) as malignant, indicating a benign-to-malignant ratio of 1:1. The majority of both benign (29%) and malignant (39%) tumors occurred in the minor salivary glands. Malignant tumors were slightly more common in minor salivary glands, indicating a benign-to-malignant ratio of 1:0.75. Among the minor salivary sites, palate was the most frequent location, accounting for 51% of the tumors (246 out of 486). The tumors affected adult patients more commonly, and a slight female predominance (1:1.15) was also evident. Pleomorphic adenoma was the most frequent tumor, representing 38% of all tumors (274 out of 713), followed by mucoepidermoid carcinoma 21.6% (154 out of 713) and adenoid cystic carcinoma 13.5% (96 out of 713). The commonest benign and malignant tumors were pleomorphic adenoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma in both major and minor salivary glands.


CONCLUSIONS
According to the findings of this study, equal frequencies of benign and malignant tumors indicate higher occurrences of malignancies, especially in the minor salivary glands, in the Sri Lankan population.
Tilakaratne
Wanninayake Mudiyanselage
WM
Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. wmtilak@pdn.ac.lk
Jayasooriya
Primali Rukmal
PR
Tennakoon
Tennakoon Mudiyanselage Priyanka Bandara
TM
Saku
Takashi
T
D000235:Adenolymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000453:epidemiology; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000473:pathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology