OBJECTIVE: Tumors of salivary glands in children are rare. Basically all types of salivary gland diseases during the period of childhood are described. The incidences of salivary gland tumors in children (0-14 years) differ completely from those in adults. Especially the malignant neoplasms are very rarely described in literature. Only some collective reviews and case reports try to summarize frequency, distribution concerning sex and age, morphology and localization. METHODS: In our study we were able to draw data from the Hamburg Salivary Gland Registry, concerning the last 25 years regarding histopathological diagnosis, age, gender and localisation of the pathologies. Findings were compared to other studies. Most of the specimens were presented by the Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hamburg, Eppendorf. As a reference centre for salivary gland diseases some material was sent by other institutions. RESULTS: This study will give a detailed survey of salivary gland diseases and tumors in children up to the age of 14 which have undergone surgical therapy/biopsy. We present the general distribution of the different tumors/diseases, the distribution in certain age groups and the various locations. 549 cases could be examined. Comparing the distribution of malignant tumors with other studies, the epithelial-myoepithelial carcinomas followed by salivary duct carcinomas represent the largest group in childhood. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that comparing to adulthood different tumors play an important role in adolescence. The distribution of tumors in childhood may help in diagnostic. Further many salivary gland diseases in childhood underwent surgery/biopsy although this is not supposed to be the proper treatment. The study shows that the right diagnosis most often can only be reached by surgery and histology.
OBJECTIVE: Tumors of salivary glands in children are rare. Basically all types of salivary gland diseases during the period of childhood are described. The incidences of salivary gland tumors in children (0-14 years) differ completely from those in adults. Especially the malignant neoplasms are very rarely described in literature. Only some collective reviews and case reports try to summarize frequency, distribution concerning sex and age, morphology and localization. METHODS: In our study we were able to draw data from the Hamburg Salivary Gland Registry, concerning the last 25 years regarding histopathological diagnosis, age, gender and localisation of the pathologies. Findings were compared to other studies. Most of the specimens were presented by the Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hamburg, Eppendorf. As a reference centre for salivary gland diseases some material was sent by other institutions. RESULTS: This study will give a detailed survey of salivary gland diseases and tumors in children up to the age of 14 which have undergone surgical therapy/biopsy. We present the general distribution of the different tumors/diseases, the distribution in certain age groups and the various locations. 549 cases could be examined. Comparing the distribution of malignant tumors with other studies, the epithelial-myoepithelial carcinomas followed by salivary duct carcinomas represent the largest group in childhood. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that comparing to adulthood different tumors play an important role in adolescence. The distribution of tumors in childhood may help in diagnostic. Further many salivary gland diseases in childhood underwent surgery/biopsy although this is not supposed to be the proper treatment. The study shows that the right diagnosis most often can only be reached by surgery and histology.