Minor Salivary Gland Tumours: A Retrospective Study of Cases Treated in a Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Tumours of the minor salivary glands occurring in the oral cavity are uncommon. The oral cavity has many tiny salivary glands, which occur in the lip, palate, floor of the mouth, cheeks, tongue and pharynx. Tumours could develop from any of these minor salivary glands. The tumours of the minor salivary glands have an insidious onset, oftentimes noticed when the tumour interferes with oral functions such as swallowing, speech, and breathing or when there are associated pains. The incidence of these tumours varies with age, sex and ethnicity.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the nature, clinical features, pathology, and treatment of these tumours in North-West, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients with minor salivary gland tumours that were treated at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria. The study covered a period of eleven years from January 2009 to December 2019. Information was extracted from case files of patients. Data collected includes: age of patient at presentation, sex, location of tumour, clinical features, treatment, complications and histological diagnosis. Data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), version 20.0.

Results: The age of the patients ranged from 16 to 70 years, with the mean SD = 43.0 ± 6.6 years and the male-to-female ratio was 1:2. Benign tumours were the most common compared to malignancies. The palate was the commonest site of occurrence; followed by the upper lip. The treatment was surgical excision. Malignant cases received post-surgery chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Palatal fistula was the most common complication of the surgery.

Conclusion:  Pleomorphic adenoma was the most common tumour in this study.  Tumours in the palate interfere with oral functions and destroy maxillary bone resulting in untoward debilitating effects.