G Rasp1, W Permanetter. 1. Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkranke, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Malignant neoplasms of the salivary glands are extremely unusual in the pediatric age group. METHODS: We report an 11-year-old boy who presented with a mass in the left submandibular region and a second mass in the jugularfacial venous angle. RESULTS: Histologic evaluation determined that this was a squamous cell carcinoma of the submandibular gland with metastasis to a cervical node. Review of the literature was undertaken to identify the rate of malignant salivary gland tumors in children. Malignant salivary gland tumors are extremely rare in children. When malignancy does occur, nearly 90% are present in the parotid gland. The submandibular gland is effected in 7.7% of cases. The most common malignancy in salivary glands of children is the mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma occurs in less than 2% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary gland tumors are very rare in children in contrast to adults. The proportion of malignant tumors in children is higher than that observed in adults; however, it is not possible to draw conclusions concerning treatment from the few case reports that exist. A higher rate of local recurrence and cervical lymph node metastasis may be expected in children.
PURPOSE:Malignant neoplasms of the salivary glands are extremely unusual in the pediatric age group. METHODS: We report an 11-year-old boy who presented with a mass in the left submandibular region and a second mass in the jugularfacial venous angle. RESULTS: Histologic evaluation determined that this was a squamous cell carcinoma of the submandibular gland with metastasis to a cervical node. Review of the literature was undertaken to identify the rate of malignant salivary gland tumors in children. Malignant salivary gland tumors are extremely rare in children. When malignancy does occur, nearly 90% are present in the parotid gland. The submandibular gland is effected in 7.7% of cases. The most common malignancy in salivary glands of children is the mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma occurs in less than 2% of cases. CONCLUSIONS:Salivary gland tumors are very rare in children in contrast to adults. The proportion of malignant tumors in children is higher than that observed in adults; however, it is not possible to draw conclusions concerning treatment from the few case reports that exist. A higher rate of local recurrence and cervical lymph node metastasis may be expected in children.