The overall management of salivary gland disorders

Two studies are reported in an attempt to give a broader interpretation of the management of salivary gland disorders. One study analyzes 232 patients seen over a six year period and divides the grouping into parotid, submaxillary, and accessory salivary gland disorders. The numbers and percentages of patients who underwent surgery are reported along with a pathological break-down of the various lesions encountered. Eighty-five (36%) of the 232 patients had a documented surgical procedure. Thirty-eight of the entire 232 patients had tumor involvement, for a 16% incidence of neoplasia. At the same time 244 patients had various sorts of salivary gland surgery in the four local hospitals. Of these, 210 had either a parotidectomy or submaxillary gland excision. A surgical and pathological breakdown of the 117 neoplastic lesions fairly well corresponds to most of the published series, but fails to relay the overall picture that the head and neck surgeon encounters in dealing with salivary glands.