Benign Minor Salivary Gland Neoplasm: Analysis of New Pediatric Cases

Objectives: Neoplasms of minor salivary glands are rare in children. This study examined new cases of minor salivary gland neoplasms in children and compared them to cases in literature. Methods: Cases of benign minor salivary gland tumors in children over a 35-year period (January, 1969, to December, 2004), at the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, LSUSD were accessioned. Corresponding clinical data and follow-up information was obtained. Results: 9 benign epithelial minor salivary gland neoplasms were found in patients ≤19 years. Information was tabulated from these 9 new cases and from 26 well-documented cases from the English-language literature (total 35 cases). Pleomorphic adenomas (PA) were the most common benign neoplasm (33 cases). PA occurred between the ages of 5 to 18; 24 cases occurred in the second decade. The female:male ratio of PAs was 4.5:1. Race distribution was 9 blacks, 8 Caucasians, and 1 Asian (15: not stated). 23/33 PAs occurred in the salivary glands of the hard and/or soft palate, 5 of the upper lip, 4 of the buccal mucosa, and one of the tongue. Size of PAs ranged from 1.0 to 5.0 cm; in 4 cases they had eroded into bone. Duration ranged from weeks to years. Most cases were treated with conservative surgical excision. Recurrences were recorded in 2/23 cases with available follow-up (range 8 months to 39 years). The interval from initial treatment to recurrence in the 2 cases that recurred was 2 years and 5 years. Two cystadenomas were the only other benign neoplasms. Both patients were lost to follow-up. Conclusions: Our study supports previous reports that the pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign neoplasm of minor salivary glands in the pediatric age group and that its biologic behavior is the same as that of the pleomorphic adenoma that occurs in older age groups.