Multiple tumours of the salivary glands—Terminology and nomenclature

Multiple tumours of the salivary glands are very rare and their combinations according to histological classification of the tumours, localisation and origin (origin in independent topographical areas or in the same tissue) are diverse.

The following two categories can be distinguished: common occurrence of multiple salivary gland tumours with identical histology, or with different histology. In either group the tumours can be unilateral or bilateral, synchronous or metachronous. The most common multiple tumours with an identical histology are Warthin tumours and pleomorphic adenomas. Bilateral occurrence has been observed especially in oncocytomas, acinic cell carcinomas and basal cell adenomas. In the group of multiple tumours with differing histology, Warthin tumours and pleomorphic adenomas show a number of combinations with other adenomas or carcinomas of the salivary glands. Notable also is the simultaneous occurrence of salivary gland tumours with other oral tumours or extraglandular tumours, especially thyroid carcinomas and breast carcinomas.

Multiple salivary gland tumours must be distinguished by nomenclature from tumours with biphasic differentiation and hybrid tumours. Tumours with biphasic differentiation are defined as regular, recurring mixtures of two cellular components in the same tumour and have a corresponding term in the tumour classification. Hybrid tumours are very rare and are composed of two different tumour entities within the same topographical area. Each of the tumour entities conforms with an exactly defined tumour category.