Salivary Gland Tumours:

Ahmed Sayed Ahmed Hassanain

Salivary gland tumours are rare their incidence ranges between less than 3% and 6% of all head and neck tumours are mostly benign tumours occur in the parotid gland which are mostly benign tumours in 75% tumours ariing from the submandibular salivary gland are less often than inflammatory processes consequently the diagnosis and treatment may be de-layed .The ratio is 45% to 46% while in the minor Sali vary gland the ratio is 35% to 65% respectively neoplasm of the sublingual glands are unusual, 90% of them are malignant metastasis in the parotid gland are unusual when they do oc- cur the primary sites are usually head and neck squamous cell carcinomas or melanomas often involving the skin but occa sionally from distant site such as lung breast and kindyn the salivary gland tumours occur in children and fewer than 0.25 percent are found in children under 10 years of ageThe etiology of most salivary gland neoplasms remains ob-scure, but exposure to ionizing radiation, alcohol consumption prolonged use of mouth wash hair – dye usage and infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and epstien barr virus (EPV) , genetic factors have been suggested in several studies which report appositive family history in patients of salivary gland carcinoma an increased incidence of of salivary gland carcinoma has also been reported in Greenland families.