Salivary Gland-Type Tumors of the Lung

Mucous and serous glands of the tracheobronchial tree rarely give rise to neoplasms that are histologically identical to those occurring in the salivary glands of the head and neck region. These salivary gland-type tumors (SGT) constitute a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with complex clinicopathological and biological characteristics. As the spectrum of distinct entities in the head and neck region is constantly expanding, awareness of the possibility that similar tumors may arise as lung primaries is required in the workup of more unusual-appearing lung tumors. Importantly, detailed clinical history is always necessary to rule out metastatic disease from a head and neck primary before a diagnosis of primary pulmonary SGT can be supplied.