ABSTRACT
The most frequent indications for excision of the submandibular gland are when a calculus is present within the gland hilum and cannot be retrieved endoscopically or when the gland is the site of chronic infection or when a benign or malignant tumour is present. Only 10% of salivary tumours arise in the submandibular gland and 60% of these will be pleomorphic adenomas. The most frequent reason for operating on the minor salivary glands is for mucocoele or for tumour. If the tumour proves to be a high-grade malignancy, furthermore extensive surgery might be required together with post-operative radiotherapy when indicated. The sublingual gland is a very rare site of tumour, but almost all of them will be malignant, the majority being adenoid cystic carcinomas. Open surgical biopsy of a suspected submandibular gland tumour is contraindicated. For suspected minor gland tumours arising in mobile soft tissues, excision biopsy will often be the only treatment required.
