SALIVARY GLAND NEOPLASMS IN ZARIA, NIGERIA A TWENTY YEAR HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the relative frequency of neoplasms of the
salivary gland seen at the Department of Histopathology, Ahmadu Bello University
Teaching Hospital, Zaria Nigeria over a period of 20years. All histologically
diagnosed cases as salivary gland neoplasms from January 1989 to December 2008
were retrieved from the histopathology records of the Department. Formalin fixed
paraffin embedded tissues stained with routine Hematoxylin and Eosin were retrieved
from the department archives and subject to morphologic re-evaluation via light
microscopy. All the cases were analysed for age, sex, site of occurrence and histologic
diagnosis based on 2005 World Health Organisation (WHO) classification.
The study showed that salivary gland neoplasms constituted 2.1% of all neoplastic
lesions seen in the study period. The male-to-female ratio was equal and majority of
the tumours affected the age group 31-40 years. Malignant tumours accounted for
50.7% (n = 131) and benign tumours 49.2% (n = 127). Pleomorphic adenoma had the
highest frequency of 43.4% and adenoid cystic carcinoma was the second commonest
(25.9%).