21.  What is the frequency of tumor type and malignancy in minor salivary glands, submandibular glands, sublingual glands?

Answer:
Minor salivary glands are found in abundant numbers on the mucosal surfaces of the palate, cheeks, lips, tongue, nose and paranasal sinuses. The most common location of minor salivary gland tumors is the palate. The most common tumor type is the adenoid cystic carcinoma, a locally invasive tumor that spreads by perineural invasion with bone and soft tissue destruction. Margin failure is common.

Nearly 50 per cent of all tumors arising in the submandibular gland are malignant. Of these, adenoid cystic carcinomas are the most common, with mucoepidermoid carcinoma second most common. Tumors of the sublingual glands are uncommon but most are malignant. Adenoid cystic and mucoepidermoid carcinoma predominate.

 
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