Primary malignant epithelial salivary gland tumors in an Iranian population: A retrospective study of 81 cases

BACKGROUND: Salivary gland tumors of epithelial origin are rare lesions. Few epidemiologic studies on prevalence of such condition in Iranian population have been published. This study with the aim of determining the relative frequency of epithelial salivary tumors was performed in Yazd city from 2001 to 2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cases diagnosed as primary malignant epithelial salivary gland tumor were collected from the Pathology Department of main hospitals and Health Department of Medical Science Yazd University from 2001–2012. Histopathologic type, tumor location, age, gender and whether patients were native or non-native were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty-one cases of primary malignant epithelial salivary gland tumors were recorded. Male to female ratio was 1:1.3. The most common malignancy was adenoid cystic carcinoma (35.8%) and the most common effected site was the parotid gland. Mean age for malignancy was 52.57 ± 18.25 years. CONCLUSION: According to the findings of this study, predilection of adenoid cystic carcinoma was more in non-natives as compared to natives (from Yazd). This could suggest the influence of racial and environmental factors on prevalence of such malignancies.