Diagnostic Considerations

Salivary gland tumors are classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of head and neck tumors, most recently updated in 2017.^[41] They are categorized on the basis of their cytologic, architectural, and biologic characteristics. Tumors of the salivary glands include the following histotypes, organized by frequency (if available) below:

Benign tumors include the following:

Pleomorphic adenoma, 45.4% ^[42]
Basal cell adenoma
Canalicular adenoma
Cystadenoma
Ductal papilloma
Lymphadenoma
Myoepithelioma
Oncocytoma
Sebaceous adenoma
Sialadenoma papilliferum
Warthin tumor

Nonneoplastic epithelial lesions include the following:

Intercalated duct hyperplasia
Lymphoepithelial sialadenitis
Nodular oncocytic hyperplasia
Sclerosing polycystic adenosis

Soft-tissue tumors include the following:

Hemangioma
Lipoma
Nodular fasciitis

Hematolymphoid tumors include the following:

MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma

In addition to the conditions listed in the differential diagnosis, other disorders to be considered include the following:

Adenomatoid hyperplasia
Sialadenitis
Sialadenosis
Sialolithiasis

Differential Diagnoses

Workup

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Media Gallery

Histologic architecture of the salivary gland unit.
Coronal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan demonstrating a large, benign lesion of the right parapharyngeal space.

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Author

Neerav Goyal, MD, MPH, FACS Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Neurosurgery, Public Health Sciences, and Surgery, Chief, Division of Head and Neck Oncology and Surgery, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine; Associate Director, Skull Base and Pituitary Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Penn State Health, Milton S Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Cancer Institute

Neerav Goyal, MD, MPH, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Head and Neck Society, American Medical Association, Hobart Amory Hare Honor Society, North American Skull Base Society, Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons

Disclosure: Received research grant from: Medrobotics, Inc; Synthes, Inc.

Coauthor(s)

F Jeffrey Lorenz, BS MD Candidate, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine

F Jeffrey Lorenz, BS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

David L Morris, MD, PhD, FRACS Professor, Department of Surgery, St George Hospital, University of New South Wales, Australia

David L Morris, MD, PhD, FRACS is a member of the following medical societies: British Society of Gastroenterology

Disclosure: Received none from RFA Medical for director; Received none from MRC Biotec for director.

Chief Editor

John Geibel, MD, MSc, DSc, AGAF Vice Chair and Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Gastrointestinal Medicine, Professor, Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine; Director of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Yale-New Haven Hospital; American Gastroenterological Association Fellow; Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine

John Geibel, MD, MSc, DSc, AGAF is a member of the following medical societies: American Gastroenterological Association, American Physiological Society, American Society of Nephrology, Association for Academic Surgery, International Society of Nephrology, New York Academy of Sciences, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Fadi Chahin, MD Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Private Practice

Fadi Chahin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Matthew R Kaufman, MD, FACS Partner, The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction at the Plastic Surgery Center

Matthew R Kaufman, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Tom Shokri, MD Resident Physician, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Penn State Health Milton S Hershey Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Vijay A Patel, MD Clinical Instructor, Fellow in Rhinology and Cranial Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, UPMC Centers for Cranial Base Surgery and Sinonasal Disorders and Allergy, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Vijay A Patel, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Rhinologic Society, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, North American Skull Base Society, Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Pennsylvania Medical Society, The Triological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sections Benign Tumors of Minor Salivary Glands
Overview
Presentation
DDx
Workup
Treatment
Media Gallery
References

Benign Tumors of Minor Salivary Glands Differential Diagnoses

Diagnostic Considerations

Differential Diagnoses

References

Tables

Contributor Information and Disclosures

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