Current status of histogenetic and morphogenetic concepts of salivary gland tumorigenesis.

Because of their complexity and relative infrequency, salivary gland tumors commonly result in diagnostic problems. Histogenetic and morphogenetic concepts of tumorigenesis in these glands are reviewed and their relevance to routine diagnosis and classification of salivary gland tumors evaluated. Evidence is presented from animal and human studies that under steady-state and pathophysiological conditions, all cell types present in the normal gland, including acinar cells, are capable of rapidly entering the cell cycle and are, therefore, possible targets for neoplastic transformation.