Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part A (2024)

Salivary glands are exocrine organs responsible for the production and secretion of saliva. There are three pairs of major salivary glands: the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands. There are hundreds of minor salivary glands in the mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract. Masses in the salivary gland region are difficult to diagnose in terms of their location, histological behavior, and tissue diagnosis. The purpose of the study is to know the clinical profile and outcome profile of salivary gland swellings. This is a hospital-based prospective study carried out at Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh from February 2022 to March 2023. Out of 100 patients with features suggestive of salivary gland swelling were enrolled in the study. Most of the patients underwent pre-operative work up with FNAC and patients indicated for surgery under- went surgery and HPE. Salivary gland swelling occurred more commonly in 3rd decade of life and equal numbers of cases were seen in both genders. Most of the patients presented with salivary gland swelling (98%). 42 (42%) were non neoplastic, 58 (58%) were neoplastic swellings, 36 (36%) were benign of which pleomorphic adenoma was the most common and 22 (22%) were malignant of which adenoid cystic carcinoma was the most common. Parotid gland was the most common gland involved. Fine needle aspiration cytology was highly sensitive for benign tumours and highly specific for malignant tumours. We conclude that men and women are equally susceptible to salivary gland diseases. FNAC is the first choice in the evaluation of salivary gland diseases. Medical history and physical examination complement FNAC and aid in diagnosis. FNAC is an accurate, simple, fast, and inexpensive test that is well accepted by patients.