Tumours of the submandibular salivary gland: a clinicopathologic review of cases over a 17-year period.
OBJECTIVE
This study presents a clinicopathologic review of cases of submandibular salivary gland tumours at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, over a period of 17 years.


METHODS
The records of all patients with histological diagnosis of submandibular salivary gland tumours at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital over a period of 17 years (January 1990 to December 2006) were retrospectively reviewed. Parameters studied were; age and gender of patients, symptoms and duration of symptoms, and histological diagnosis.


RESULTS
A total of 36 patients with submandibular gland tumours were seen during the period. Male-to-female ratio was 1.8:1 (male=23, female=13). Mean age (+/- SD) at presentation was 43 (+/- 19) years (age range, 17-84 years). There were 19 malignant tumours and 17 benign ones. Pleomorphic adenoma (36.1%) was the most frequent tumours, followed by adenoid cystic carcinoma (11.1%), anaplastic carcinoma (11.1%) and malignant lymphoma (11.1%). Patients with histological diagnosis of malignant tumours were significantly older than those with benign tumours (p = 0.01). Most patients (80.6%) presented with painless swelling.


CONCLUSIONS
Malignant submandibular salivary gland tumours were slightly more than the benign ones in the studied population. Painful swelling or ulceration is indicative of a malignant submandibular gland tumour
Adeyemo
W L
WL
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria. lanreadeyemo@yahoo.com
Ajayi
O F
OF
Anunobi
C C
CC
Ogunlewe
M O
MO
Ladeinde
A L
AL
Omitola
O G
OG
Abdulkareem
F B
FB
D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013365:Submandibular Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult