Salivary Gland Tumours at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Abstract

In African studies on salivary gland tumours, there are considerable epidemiological differences in different parts of the continent. There is no study of salivary gland tumours from the second largest hospital in Ghana, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Aim: This study was to look at the prevalence and demographic distribution of salivary gland tumours at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). Method: Histopathologically diagnosed salivary gland tumours of consecutive patients were evaluated. The study duration was from 1999 to 2010 October. Result: The total number of salivary gland tumours were 121. Male to female ratio was 1.75:1. Out of the total of 34 salivary malignan-cies seen, male to female ratio was 1.8:1. Malignant tumour was 28.1% while 71.9% were benign. Mean age for malig-nancy was 53.5 years (SD = 9.7) and that for benign was 35.5 years (SD = 8.2). Conclusion: The commonest benign tumour of the parotid was Pleomorphic adenoma (48.3%) which is consistent with most of the African and western reports. Warthin's tumour prevalence was higher than most of the studies from Africa.