Role of Inflammation in Benign Salivary Gland Tumor Etiopathogenesis: An Evaluation through the Blood Inflammatory Biomarkers

Objectives: To investigate the immune inflammatory profile in patients affected by benign salivary gland tumors (SGTs) by evaluating the blood inflammatory biomarkers. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed between January 2015 and April 2020, collecting the data of all patients admitted for benign SGTs in our maxillofacial surgery unit. A total of 191 patients were divided into two groups: 94 with Warthin's tumor (WT group) and 97 with pleomorphic adenoma (PA group) at histological diagnosis. The third group consisted of 90 patients randomly selected as the control group (C group). Results: The most relevant correlations were found by analyzing the values of some inflammatory biomarkers among the three groups.The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was found significantly higher in patients in the PA (p<0.005) and WT (p<0.001) groups than in patients in the C group. Similarly, the systemic immune-inflammation index was found significantly higher in patients in the PA and WT (p<0.005) groups than in patients in the C group. The platelet-tolymphocyte ratio was significantly higher in patients in the PA group than in patients in the WT (p<0.05) and C groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: In both WT and PA groups, the inflammatory status of the patients was found altered. Thus, inflammation and the immune system seem to have a role in the genesis of these benign salivary neoplasms whose etiopathogenesis is still debated.