Objective: To describe the histopathological characteristics of salivary gland epithelial tumors according to the 2022 WHO classification and to correlate the distribution of histological subtypes with anatomical locations.
Subjects and Methods: A total of 602 patients diagnosed with salivary gland epithelial tumors at K Hospital – Tan Trieu Campus from January 2022 to January 2026 were included in the study.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 49 ± 16.4 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.1. Benign tumors predominated, accounting for 76.7% of cases, among which pleomorphic adenoma was the most common histological subtype (59.5%). Among malignant tumors, mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the most frequent subtype (34.3%), followed by adenoid cystic carcinoma. Most tumors arose in the major salivary glands, particularly the parotid gland (67.3%). A significant difference in the distribution of benign and malignant tumors according to anatomical location was observed, with the highest rate of malignancy found in the sublingual gland, followed by the minor salivary glands (p<0.05). Warthin tumor was found almost exclusively in the parotid gland, whereas adenoid cystic carcinoma was the predominant malignant subtype in the minor salivary glands and sublingual gland.
Conclusion: The findings are consistent with previous reports and contribute additional evidence on the histopathological characteristics of salivary gland tumours, supporting diagnosis, treatment planning, and prognostic assessment.