Intraoral approach for the treatment of submandibular salivary gland mixed tumors.

Pleomorphic adenoma represents a most common benign neoplasm of major salivary glands. Most occurrences of this benign tumor in the submandibular gland have been treated surgically without difficulty via transcervical approach. However, a few clinical problems in the transcervical approach have been mentioned, such as nerve injury or aesthetic scaring. In this study, we introduced the intraoral approach for the removal of the submandibular mixed tumor. In total, 12 cases of pleomorphic adenoma of the submandibular gland were treated via intraoral approach. The surgical technique and morbidity associated with this approach were reviewed. During surgery the tumor and submandibular gland are easily dissected from surrounding tissue and removed through intraoral incision. Early postoperative morbidity developed, such as a temporary paresis of lingual nerve and a temporary limitation of tongue movement, but recovered within a short-term period. No late complaints appeared, such as neurological discomforts. All patients were followed up for the recurrence of the tumor from 20 months to 10 years. One patient showed a tumor recurrence at the early stage of this approach. We propose that the benign mixed tumor of the submandibular gland could be removed easily via intraoral route without an external scar or nerve injury.