Clinical Study of Submandibular Gland Tumors.

This is a clinical and pathological study of 31 patients with submandibular gland tumors treated from July 1978 to December 1990. Eighteen of the tumors were pleomorphic adenomas (benign). Six of the 13 malignant tumors were adenoid cystic carcinomas. The most important clinical sign was the characteristic tenderness associated with malignant tumors. Adenoid cystic caricinoma has a long clinical course. It is classified into three types: cribriform, tubular and solid. The solid pattern type has the poorest prognosis.