Primary malignant salivary gland-type tumors of the lung: clinico-pathological study of 10 cases

Primary pulmonary salivary gland-type tumors are rare and characterized by a specific clinico-pathological manifestation. They are proximal tumors affecting young subjects and not associated with smoking. For optimal management, it is important to distinguish them from other bronchopulmonary tumors, with which they don´t share either biology or treatment and outcome. We conducted a retrospective study, including all primary malignant salivary gland-type tumors of the lung, over a period of 32 years, from January 1987 to December 2019. We collected data from the medical records of 10 patients: 5 men and 5 women (sex ratio 1). The average age of our patients was 47.4 years. In all cases radiological examinations showed proximally located nodular tumor ranging in size from 1 to 5.8 cm. Histological examination objectified mucoepidermoid carcinoma (6 out of 10 cases). All patients had localized or locally advanced tumors, with the exception of one case of metastatic mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Pulmonary salivary gland-type tumors correspond to a heterogeneous group of tumours. They are not very aggressive but are associated with a high frequency of recurrences and late metastases, requiring long-term monitoring.