Incidence of salivary gland neoplasms in a defined UK population

To establish a true prevalence of salivary gland tumours in a fixed population in the United Kingdom (UK), we searched the unified computerised pathology records of two teaching hospitals, including two private hospitals, for all salivary gland neoplasms (benign and malignant) over two 10-year periods (January 1988–December 1997, and January 1998–December 2007). Reports included needle biopsy, open biopsy, or excision biopsy. Equivocal results were checked by review of the medical notes. Patients referred from outside the catchment area were excluded. Both series combined showed that all neoplasms confirmed the 10:1:1 rule of distribution, but the benign to malignant ratio did not conform to standard teaching. The data suggest that 70–75 benign, and 8–14 malignant neoplasms present annually/million population, which is consistent with established patterns. However, this points towards a lower incidence of cancer in the major salivary glands than was traditionally thought.