ENT Liu Knowledge Base Head & neck tumours · physician reviewed
Salivary Gland Tumours · Understanding the disease

Why do salivary gland cancers make up a larger share of head and neck cancer in parts of Africa?

Reviewed: 8 November 2026 By: Xiangpeng Liu, MD Topic: Salivary Gland Tumours Answer length: short, citable
Quick answer

The 2022 subsite analysis found the highest relative shares in Western Africa (21.8%) and Central Africa (16.1%), with high male ASRs in Haiti and Togo. These figures mostly reflect the comparatively low rates of other lip/oral/pharyngeal subsites in those regions plus registry and diagnostic variation, rather than a proven single environmental cause.

In detail

Relative share is not the same as absolute risk: salivary gland cancer remains rare everywhere. Registry coverage and histopathology access in low-resource settings also influence how tumours are classified, so country rankings should be interpreted cautiously.

What this means in practice: this answer is part of the “Understanding the disease” section of the Salivary Gland Tumours topic. If you are comparing treatment options, also read how to compare a second opinion and which records to send.

Other common questions about salivary gland tumours

See all 14 questions in this topic →

Sources for this answer

  1. Global incidence of lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal cancers by subsite in 2022 CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians · 2026 · Subsite-level estimates for 185 countries; the basis of the regional atlas on this site.
  2. Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN 2022) International Agency for Research on Cancer / WHO · 2022 · Source of worldwide and country-level incidence and mortality estimates.

Written and medically reviewed by Xiangpeng Liu, MD

Associate Chief Physician, ENT & Head/Neck Surgery · Chenzhou First People’s Hospital, Chenzhou, Hunan, China

Editorial policy & reviewer credentials · All sources

← Previous questionWhy does adenoid cystic carcinoma need such long follow-up? Next question →What does salivary gland surgery cost in China for international patients?

Need an opinion on your own case?

International patients can request a preliminary review based on pathology and imaging before travelling to China.

How the pathway works Send an enquiry

Medical disclaimer: This knowledge base is general information for people researching head and neck tumours, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. It does not replace an examination by a qualified physician. Survival figures are population averages, not predictions for an individual. Treatment and cost estimates for China are illustrative only and must be confirmed in writing after your records have been reviewed. If you have a symptom lasting more than two to three weeks, see a doctor promptly.