Histopathological Spectrum of Salivary Gland Lesions: A Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Salivary gland lesions encompass a range of benign and malignant tumors, inflammatory conditions, and developmental anomalies. Histopathological examination plays a critical role in accurate diagnosis and management. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the histopathological spectrum of salivary gland lesions, focusing on their frequency, distribution, and associated clinical characteristics in a sample of patients. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi, from July 2022 to June 2023. A total of 52 cases of salivary gland lesions were enrolled through purposive sampling. Specimens were processed using standard histological techniques, including hematoxylin and eosin staining, followed by histopathological examination. Data were analyzed using MS Office tools. Results: The study included 63% male and 37% female patients. Among males, 27.27% had right parotid lesions, while 21.21% had left parotid lesions. In females, 31.58% had left parotid lesions. The most frequent lesion site was the parotid gland (48.08%), followed by the submandibular gland. Pleomorphic adenoma (34.61%) was the most common lesion, followed by chronic non-specific sialadenitis (25%). Pleomorphic adenoma was more common in males (36.37%) than females (31.58%). Mucoepidermoid carcinoma was found in 13.6% of cases, while Warthin tumor, acinic cell carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, metastatic carcinoma, and oncocytoma were observed in 5.77%, 5.77%, 5.77%, 3.85%, and 1.92% of cases, respectively. Conclusion: Pleomorphic adenoma and chronic non-specific sialadenitis were the most common salivary gland lesions. The study emphasizes the importance of histopathological diagnosis for effective management of these lesions.