ABSTRACT
Open surgical biopsy of a suspected submandibular gland tumour is contraindicated. If the tumour is contained within the capsule of the gland, open biopsy will spill tumour cells into the surrounding tissue planes. As the majority will be benign pleomorphic adenomas, their simple excision will be compromised. If the tumour is malignant, then the hope of cure will have been compromised. Fine needle aspiration biopsy appears to be safe but is unreliable in salivary gland pathology, but fine needle core biopsy is useful if available.
