[Implications of the reclassification study of tumors of the salivary glands of the head].

A reclassification of 272 tumors of the salivary glands of the head resulted in a high proportion of new allocations, particularly among adenocarcinomas, adenoid cystic carcinomas, and pleomorphic adenomas, sometimes even involving a different assessment of the tumors' benign or malignant character. The implications for clinical practice and for prognostic studies are discussed.