Surgery of Minor Salivary Glands

While the major salivary glands produce 92–95% of saliva, the remainder is made by roughly 600–1000 minor salivary glands that are most commonly found in the lips, buccal mucosa, palate, and tongue. This chapter discusses the anatomical location and function of minor salivary glands as well as minor salivary gland sialolithiasis (MGSL), subacute necrotizing (SANS), sialadenitis, necrotizing sialo-metaplasia (NSM), and benign and malignant minor salivary gland tumors. It also addresses the different approaches of minor salivary gland resection (intraoral approach, transcervical approaches with or without mandibulectomy, and trans-oral robotic surgery) and explores the potential complications associated with each.