Background Study: Tumours of the minor salivary glands occurring in the oral cavity are uncommon. The oral cavity has many tiny salivary glands which occur in the lip, palate, floor of the mouth, cheeks, tongue and pharynx. Tumour could develop from any of these minor salivary glands.

Objective: To investigate the nature, clinical features, pathology, and treatment of these tumours in North-West, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients with minor salivary gland tumours that were treated at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria. The study covered a period of eleven years from January, 2009 to December, 2019. Information was extracted from case files of patients. Data collected includes: age of patient at presentation, sex, location of tumour, clinical features, treatment, complications and histological diagnosis. 

Results: The age of the patients ranged from 16 to 70 years, with the mean SD = 43.0 ± 6.6 years and male-to-female ratio was 1: 2. Benign tumours were the most common compared to malignancies. Palate was the commonest site of occurrence; followed by upper lip. The treatment was surgical excision. Palatal fistula was the commonest complication of the surgery.

Conclusion: Pleomorphic adenoma was the most common tumour in this study.  Tumours in the palate interfere with oral functions and destroy maxillary bone resulting in untoward debilitating effect.

Keywords: Salivary glands, Tumour, Intraoral, Palate, Benign, Malignant