[Salivary gland neoplasms in the years 1991-2006 in the material of the Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University in Bialystok].

Complex structure of salivary glands, histological diversity of malignant salivary gland neoplasms and heterogeneous clinical image make therapeutic strategy difficult and controversial. The aim of this work was an epidemiologic analysis of 86 salivary gland tumour cases (in years 1991-2000) and 82 cases treated at the Otolaryngological Clinic of the Medical University of Bialystok (in years 2001-2006). Epidemiologic researches were conducted retrospectively. Age, sex, histological structure, location and local progression of tumour were analysed. The relationship between histological type, local progression and the presence of metastases to the cervical lymph nodes as well as remote metastases was also examined. The study was based on TNM Tumor Classification: large salivary glands (1977). It was found that malignant epithelial salivary gland tumours affect most commonly the parotid gland in men aged over 50 years. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was the most frequently represented histological type. Remote metastases were observed most commonly in patients with polymorphic adenoma.