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Key Statistics for Salivary Gland Cancer
Salivary gland cancers are rare. Learn about key statistics for salivary gland cancers, including how common they are and who is most affected.
How common are salivary gland cancers?
Salivary gland cancers make 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.
The most common types of salivary gland cancer are mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma. Together, these make up about half of all salivary gland cancers.
Who gets salivary gland cancer?
These cancers can occur in people of almost any age, but they become more common as people get older. On average, people are diagnosed around age 55.
Less than 5% of salivary gland cancers are diagnosed in children and teens.
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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- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Laurie SA. Salivary gland tumors: Epidemiology, diagnosis, evaluation, and staging. UpToDate. 2025. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/salivary-gland-tumors-epidemiology-diagnosis-evaluation-and-staging on January 8, 2026.
Leeman JE, Katabi N, Wong RJ, Lee NY, Romesser PB. Chapter 65: Cancer of the Head and Neck. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Dorshow JH, Kastan MB, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa. Elsevier: 2020.
Sirjani DB, Lewis JS, Beadle BM, Sunwoo JB, Finegersh A. Chapter 86: Malignant Neoplasms of the Salivary Glands. In: Francis HW, Haughey BH, Hillel AT, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA. Elsevier; 2026.
Last Revised: March 11, 2026
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