This retrospective study consists of 83 consecutive patients with the tumors of salivary glands admitted to the dept. of Radiotherapy, İstanbul Medical School between the years. 1973 and 1983. Radiation therapy was indicated in 64 of their cases but irradiation had been completed in55 out of 64cases because of their social and economical problems. All cases were evaluated according to age, sex, tumor localization and other features in registration while cases treated with radiation therapy were evaluated with regard to treatment results. Radiation therapy was applied in 35 cases postoperatively while in 20 cases for local recerrences following surgical intervention. 5 year survival rates of these two groups are 31.3 and 19.9 % respectively. The local recurrence rate in the group treated with radiation therapy postoperatively was 2.8 %. Although the primary treatment in salivary gland tumors is surgical management, we want to emphassize on the necessity and efficiency of postoperative radiation therapy in reducing local recurrences.