Abstract Background: Salivary gland tumors are uncommon and exhibit wide histopathological diversity, with significant variability in clinical behavior. Understanding local epidemiological patterns is essential to optimize diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning. This study aims to describe the clinicopathological characteristics, cytopathological classification, and outcomes of salivary gland tumors presenting to a tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all patients diagnosed with salivary gland tumors between 2016 and 2024 at a tertiary care center. Demographic data, tumor site, histopathology, Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology (MSRSGC) category, treatment modality, recurrence, and survival outcomes were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 119 salivary gland lesions were identified. Benign tumors comprised 78.15% of cases, with pleomorphic adenoma (67.74%) and Warthin tumor (23.66%) being the most common. Malignant tumors accounted for 21.85% of cases, predominantly adenoid cystic carcinoma (23.08%) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (23.08%). The parotid gland was the most frequently involved site (87.39%) across both benign and malignant tumors. Cytology using the MSRSGC demonstrated high diagnostic concordance (>77% across major tumor categories). Recurrence occurred in 15.38% ( n = 4) of malignant cases, while overall survival among malignant tumors was 84.62% ( n = 22) at last follow-up. Conclusion: The distribution of salivary gland tumors in our cohort demonstrated a predominance of benign parotid neoplasms and a smaller proportion of clinically significant malignancies. The Milan System proved valuable in preoperative diagnostic stratification. Long-term follow-up remains crucial, particularly for high-grade malignancies with recurrence potential. Multicenter studies are recommended to inform national management guidelines.
essa et al. (2026) studied this question.