[CITATION][C] Salivary tumours

JW Eveson - Periodontology 2000, 2011 - Wiley Online Library
JW Eveson
Periodontology 2000, 2011Wiley Online Library
The classification and management of salivary gland tumours can be problematic for a
variety of reasons. These tumours are not common, and additionally show a very wide range
of cell types and morphological configurations between various tumour types, and
sometimes even within a single tumour mass. Microscopic interpretation of excision
specimens can also be confounded by artefactual changes resulting from the increasing use
of pre-operative fine-needle aspiration biopsies. Moreover, the behaviour of many of the …
The classification and management of salivary gland tumours can be problematic for a variety of reasons. These tumours are not common, and additionally show a very wide range of cell types and morphological configurations between various tumour types, and sometimes even within a single tumour mass. Microscopic interpretation of excision specimens can also be confounded by artefactual changes resulting from the increasing use of pre-operative fine-needle aspiration biopsies. Moreover, the behaviour of many of the tumours is unpredictable. For example, pleomorphic adenoma, the most common salivary gland neoplasm, whilst a benign tumour, has a propensity to recur and also to progress to malignancy. On the other hand, tumours such as acinic cell carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma, although frankly malignant, can sometimes behave in a relatively lowgrade manner. In the parotid gland, the presence of the facial nerve can cause significant difficulties in both pre-operative diagnosis and surgical excision. For all these reasons, close liaison between the surgical team, histopathologists, radiologists and oncologists is particularly critical to ensure optimal management of patients with these tumours.
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