salivary gland cancer

Last reviewed 01/2018

Malignant salivary gland tumors are divided histologically into low-grade and high-grade malignancies:

• Low-grade malignancies:
  • acinic cell tumors
  • mucoepidermoid carcinoma (grades I or II)
• High-grade malignancies:
  • mucoepidermoid carcinoma (grade III)
  • adenocarcinoma:
    • poorly differentiated carcinoma
    • anaplastic carcinoma
  • squamous cell carcinoma
  • malignant mixed tumours
  • adenoid cystic carcinoma

The malignant tumours commonly affecting the major salivary glands include:

• mucoepidermoid carcinoma
• acinic cell carcinoma,
• adenoid cystic carcinoma, and less frequently,
• primary squamous cell carcinomas
• pleomorphic adenomas, often derived from benign neoplasms

Among minor salivary glands:

• adenoid cystic carcinoma is the most common
• adenocarcinoma
• mucoepidermoid carcinoma

Ref: US National Cancer Instute Salivary Gland Cancer (PDQ®): Treatment