Key Statistics About Salivary Gland Cancer
How common are salivary gland cancers?
Salivary gland cancers are not very common, making up 6% to 8% of all head and neck cancers in the United States. There are about 2,000 to 2,500 cases in the US each year. They occur at a rate of about 3 cases per 100,000 people per year in the Western world.
Who gets salivary gland cancer?
These cancers can occur in people of almost any age, but they become more common as people get older. The average age of people when they are diagnosed is 55.
Where are most salivary gland cancers found?
Most salivary gland cancers are found in the parotid glands, followed by the submandibular, sublingual, and minor salivary glands.
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National Cancer Institute. Physician Data Query (PDQ). Salivary Gland Cancer: Treatment. 2019. Accessed at https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/hp/adult/salivary-gland-treatment-pdq on April 22, 2021.
Last Revised: March 18, 2022
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