Salivary gland neoplasms are relatively uncommon and account for approximately 3% of all tumors in the head and neck region. The most common sites of occurrence are the parotid gland, with nearly 80% of cases. The malignancies, most of which are carcinomas, make up about 20% of parotid gland tumors. Salivary gland carcinomas present a considerable diagnostic challenge for general pathologists owing to their diverse histological features and the presence of a number of types and variants, in addition to overlapping histological patterns similar to those observed in different tumor entities. Furthermore, they are a heterogeneous group of tumors with different biologic behavior. The histological classification is complex, but is closely relevant to the prognostic and therapeutic aspects. Although hematoxylin-eosin staining is still the gold standard method used for the diagnosis, immunohistochemistry can enhance accuracy and be a helpful tool in cases to investigate the subjects that cannot be assessed by histological examination, such as the cell nature and differentiation status, cell proliferation rate, and oncogene protein expression. Recently, tumor-specific recurrent chromosomal translocations, resulting in the formation of fusion genes, have been identified in mucoepidermoid carcinoma (CRTC1[MECT1]-MAML2), adenoid cystic carcinoma (MYB-NFIB), mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (ETV6-NTRK3), and hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma (EWSR1-ATF1). The fusion oncogenes may have diagnostic, prognostic, and future therapeutic implications.