Objective To assess the clinical and histological features and therapeutic efficacy of 30 cases of malignant sublingual salivary gland tumors. Methods The clinicopathologic data of 30 patients with malignant sublingual salivary gland tumor were obtained from West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University from 1955 to 2005. Results There were 18 male and 12 female, and the average age of patients was 50.6 years old. Seventeen cases were adenoid cystic carcinoma, accounting for 56.7%. There were 17 cases clinically staged as Ⅲ, accounting for 56.7%. Distant metastasis and tumor recurrence were the main death reasons. The overall local recurrence rate was 30.0%, and distant metastasis rate was 26.7%. Conclusion Sublingual gland malignant tumors are rare and most of them are adenoid cystic carcinoma. Surgery is the main treatment option. The resection of the tumor accompanying with the neck dissection is the key method to achieve good therapeutic effect. The postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy should be adjuvant.
