Minor salivary glands are located in the lips, buccal mucosa and palate. The most common site of minor salivary glands is the hard palate. Benign epithelial neoplasms include pleomorphic adenoma, which is also known as mixed tumor. It is the most common benign salivary gland tumor. Warthin's tumor, also known as papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum, is common in elderly men, and can be bilateral.
Monomorphic adenoma is another benign neoplasm of the salivary glands.
These tumors present as discrete painless, slowly enlarging masses, usually in the superficial lobe of the parotid gland. Thre is no facial nerve weakness. Treatment is superficial parotidectomy. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant neoplasm of the parotid gland. Adenoid cystic carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the submandibular gland, also called the submaxillary gland.