Salivary Gland Tumors in Sudan: a hospital based study from 2004 to 2010

Abstract

Introduction: Salivary Gland Tumors are rare, with unclear etiologic factors, representing approximately 2% of all tumors of the head and neck region. The peak incidence of benign SGT is in the sixth decade and that of the malignant variant is in the seventh decade. In many reports from different countries the females are more frequently affected than males. However, in this country (Sudan) it had been reported that SGT were common in male rather than female. Objective: The aim of this study is to study the pattern of distribution of salivary glands tumors in Sudan. Setting: The study was conducted at Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital.The medical records of all patients with histologically confirmed SGT were reviewed retrospectively from January 2004 to May 2010. Design: A total number of 143 records of patients with SGT seen at Khartoum Teaching Dental hospital during the period 2004-2010 was reviewed. The parameters studied included gender, age, location, and histopathology of the tumor. In addition to those the habit of Toombak dipping among malignant SGT patients was recorded. Results: There was a high percentage of malignant salivary glands tumors mounting up to 48.3% of the series. The females outnumbered the males with a female to male ratio of 1.4:1.The mean age of patients was 44.2 years. Tumors of the minor salivary glands were more common, accounting for 65.7% of the series. The most common benign tumor was the pleomorphic adenoma accounting for 47.6%, and the most common malignant SGT was adenoid cystic carcinoma accounting for 19.6% of the cases. IV Conclusion: The findings of this study showed a high frequency of malignant SGT in the Sudan. Frequencies of distribution of SGT according to site, gender and types were similar to frequencies reported in the literature coming from the different parts of the world.