[Neoplasms of the major and minor salivary glands. The diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and case presentations]

Between January 1982 and December 1988, 37 patients with neoplasm of salivary glands have been treated in our Division of Surgical Oncology. The sites of tumors were: parotid 26, submandibular gland 4, minor salivary gland 7. The preoperative diagnostic procedures were: sialogram, ultrasonogram, fine needle aspiration. Malignant tumors were 16:5 adenoca., 4 metastases, 3 adenoid cystic, 2 mucoepidermoid, 1 acinic cells, 1 lymphoma. Twenty-one patients affected by neoplasms and 5 by malignant tumors were treated with surgery only. Nine patients affected by malignant tumors were treated with surgery and RT. Two patients were treated with RT only. The first therapeutic step is surgery; in order to control local evolution of tumor, postoperative irradiation is recommended. Possible indications of preoperative diagnostic procedures and the therapeutic choices are discussed.