title: Neoplasms of the hard palate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the most common neoplastic lesion of the oral cavity is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), primary neoplastic lesions of the hard palate have not been systematically reviewed to date. The aim of this study was to determine the histopathologic composition and characteristics of neoplasms of the hard palate.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 66 patients with a primary neoplasm of the hard palate managed at the authors' institution from 1985 through 2012 was performed. Demographic features, malignancy rate, histopathologic characteristics and distribution, TNM staging results, metastasis patterns, and management strategies were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample was composed of 66 patients (mean age, 45.0 yr; 57.6% men). Neoplasms were benign in 57.6% of cases and malignant in 42.4%. Epithelial neoplasms and mesenchymal neoplasms were encountered in 52 patients (78.8%) and 14 patients (21.2%), respectively. Minor salivary gland tumors (MSGTs) were the most common histopathologic group (60.6%), followed by benign mesenchymal tumors (15.2%), SCCs (12.1%), malignant melanomas (6.1%), lymphomas (3.0%), and sarcomas (3.0%). Although 75.0% of malignant epithelial neoplasms were at an advanced stage, there were no pN+ SCC or malignant MSGT cases at presentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most common neoplasms of the hard palate were MSGTs. SCCs were relatively rare in this series. Although three-fourths of neoplasms were at an advanced stage, neck metastasis was not a characteristic of malignant epithelial neoplasms located in the hard palate.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Gazi University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: aydil@gazi.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Utku
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Aydil
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Gazi University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kızıl
authors.affiliation: Chief Resident, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Gazi University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Faruk Kadri
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Bakkal
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Gazi University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Köybaşıoğlu
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Gazi University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sabri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uslu
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery