Table 7. Benign Salivary Gland Tumors

BENIGN SALIVARY GLAND TUMORS Well-circumscribed; slowly growing; asymptomatic; overlying mucosa is normal unless traumatized; occur only where salivary glands are present (everywhere in the oral mucosa except midline and anterior hard palate, gingiva and attached alveolar mucosa).
Pleomorphic adenoma (Mixed tumor)	Encapsulated; firm or compressible
Monomorphic adenoma	Encapsulated; firm or compressible
Oncocytoma	Encapsulated; firm; occurs in older adults
Papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum (Warthin tumor)	Encapsulated; firm or compressible; occurs in parotid gland
Adenoid cystic carcinoma*	Firm
Acinic cell carcinoma*	Firm
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, low-grade*	Compressible or fluctuant
Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma*	Firm

* These are malignant neoplasms, but they sometimes have the clinical & historical features of benign neoplasms.