Abstract
The points for diagnosis and management of salivary gland tumors in children are described. The histopathological frequency of salivary gland tumors in children is different from that in adults. The most frequent one is the hemangioma, followed by the lymphangioma. These vascular tumors comprise more than a half of the total parotid tumors in children. In terms of solid tumors, the pleomorphic adenoma is most frequently seen, followed by the mucoepidermoid carcinoma and the acinic cell carcinoma. Adequet management of these tumors are essentially important for treatment of salivary gland tumors in children. Hemangiomas are classified into two different types, the benign infantile hemangioendothelioma and the cavernous hemangioma. Management of these tumors are different. Benign infantile hemangioendothe-liomas gradually shrink and spontaneously disappear in several years. In contrast, cavernous hemangiomas are usually surgically treated. So are cystic hygromas, which are the majority of lymphangiomas arizing at the salivary glands. Therefore, differential diagnosis of these tumors are important, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasonic imaging, and color doppler imaging are useful for it. The point for the pleomorphic adenoma is careful removal of a tumor not to break the capsule, because recurrece of the tumor may lead to malignant transf-ormation. Surgical treatment of malignant tumors in children is basically the same as that in adults. En bloc resection of a tumor is essential for curative operation, and facial nerves should be grafted when dissected. On the other hand, postoperative radiation is recommended only when a surgical safety margin is insufficient, or the tumor is highly malignant one. It should be noted that radiation may disturb growth of the mandible and cause the secondary cancer in the future.
