Salivary gland malignancies in children.

Malignant salivary gland neoplasms in children are rare. Such tumors usually occur in the parotid gland of older children. Sixteen cases of major salivary gland malignancy are reviewed, 14 occurring in the parotid gland and two in the submandibular gland. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was the most common malignancy encountered, occurring in five patients; four have died of disease. Low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma occurred in three patients and all remain alive and free of disease. An assorted variety of other cancers occurred in eight patients. One child died of reticulum cell sarcoma of the parotid gland, and two children have died of adenocarcinoma. The remaining five patients remain alive and free of disease. Salivary gland malignancies in children appear to have similar biological activity as those occurring in adults. Such tumors must be treated according to the same principles generally accepted for management of salivary gland malignancies in adults.