The most common benign neoplasm of the salivary glands is pleomorphic adenoma originating from the parotid gland. Surgical excision is usually all that is required to provide both definitive diagnosis and adequate treatment. Despite this relatively simple algorithm, management of salivary neoplasms is challenging because of their relative infrequency, inconsistent classification, and variable biologic behavior. Although many studies regarding the incidence of salivary gland tumors have been reported, the epidemiology of these neoplasms is not well established because these studies are frequently restricted to a specific population, anatomical location, or a specific tumor type. There are numerous studies on the incidence and histological types of salivary gland tumors from countries in the western world and African countries. However, there is little available information about the pattern of their presentation from Asian countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and distribution of all types of salivary gland tumors in an Indian series, and to provide data for comparison with other epidemiological studies from different geographical sites and races. Demographic data from these studies should help us to a better understanding of the biological and clinical characteristics of the disease. 

Keywords: Salivary gland; Parotid gland; Pleomorphic adenoma; Warthin’s tumor; Submandibular sublingual salivary gland; Minor salivary gland.