Salivary Gland Tumors
Salivary gland tumors are abnormal cell growths that form in glands producing saliva. They may appear in the parotid, submandibular, sublingual, or minor salivary glands inside the mouth and throat. Most tumors are benign, but some can be cancerous.
Common risk factors can include prior radiation exposure to the head or neck, older age, environmental exposure, and rarely genetic mutations. Many patients develop these tumors without a clear cause, making professional evaluation important.
Symptoms may include painless lumps under the ear, jaw, or chin, facial numbness or weakness (especially for parotid tumors), difficulty swallowing, pain, rapid swelling, or a fixed hard mass. Persistent symptoms should be checked.
No, most salivary gland tumors are benign (non-cancerous). Only a small portion are malignant. However, both benign and cancerous tumors may require surgery depending on size, location, or growth behavior.
Diagnosis is based on clinical head and neck examination, ultrasound or MRI/CT imaging, endoscopy for minor gland tumors, and biopsy such as fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or tissue biopsy to confirm tumor type and grade.
Treatment depends on tumor nature. Benign tumors are commonly treated with surgery for complete removal. Malignant tumors may need surgery with clear margins, lymph node dissection if spread is suspected, followed by radiotherapy if high-risk features are present.
They can spread to lymph nodes or nerves if not treated early, depending on tumor type and grade. Early-stage tumors treated by skilled head and neck oncologic surgeons have the best outcomes.
In rare cases yes, especially in parotid gland surgeries. High-volume cancer hospitals often use intraoperative nerve monitoring techniques to minimize risk of nerve injury and protect facial movement.
Yes, it is often curable in early and mid-stage disease when treated with stage-specific multimodal planning under experienced head and neck surgical oncologists. Prognosis depends on tumor type, grade, and spread.
Not always. Radiation is advised when tumors show aggressive features like high-grade pathology, close/positive margins, lymph-node involvement, or nerve invasion. Eligibility is determined after biopsy and staging.
Most patients recover within 1-2 weeks, but functional recovery may vary based on surgical complexity. Follow-up visits include gland site healing, nerve function check, and recurrence monitoring for malignant cases.
You should see a specialist if swelling or a lump persists more than 2-3 weeks, grows rapidly, or causes pain or facial numbness. Immediate evaluation enables early diagnosis, biopsy confirmation, and better functional outcomes.