Symptoms of salivary glands tumors include facial pain and a lump in the neck. They can also cause difficulty chewing, swallowing, or opening the mouth wide. If you are experiencing these symptoms, see your doctor. Your doctor will perform a thorough examination and test your saliva for abnormal cells. It may be possible to treat the tumor with a surgical procedure, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Usually, salivary gland tumors are noncancerous. This means that they are usually small and do not spread. However, they can still cause complications if they invade the nerves that control your lips and tongue, your voice box, or other parts of your body.
The most common type of salivary gland tumor is a parotid tumor. Most parotid tumors are benign, but some are cancerous. These tumors are typically small and may only be a few centimeters in size. Occasionally, a patient will have to have the entire gland removed. In other cases, the tumor can be removed with a small amount of surrounding tissue.
Salivary gland tumors are diagnosed with a biopsy. During the biopsy, a small needle is inserted into the tumor and cells are extracted for laboratory testing. A pathologist then examines the tissue under a microscope to determine the grade of the tumor. When the tumor is cancerous, it is treated with radiation and/or excision. Normally, radiation treatments last for at least seven weeks.
Other signs of salivary glands tumors include pain when swallowing or chewing, a burning sensation in the throat, and a lump in the lip. Saliva is a lubricating substance that helps your throat and stomach digest food. Often, the tumors in the mouth are caused by injury to the glands or a salivary fistula.
Usually, cancerous salivary glands develop in the parotid glands, which are the largest of the three pairs of salivary glands. These glands are located in the upper part of the cheek near the ears.
Tumors in the parotid gland can be detected through a physical examination, fine-needle aspiration of the tissues, or image tests. Imaging techniques such as CT and MRI can help to determine if the tumor has spread to other parts of the body. Some types of salivary tumors can cause bleeding, infections, or other complications. Those symptoms can be serious and need to be addressed by a doctor.
Treatment of salivary gland cancer is based on the stage of the tumor, the location of the tumor, and its grade. While radiation and surgery are the most common ways to treat salivary gland tumors, the type of treatment you receive will depend on the type of cancer and its stage.
Radiation is the first line of treatment for malignant salivary gland tumors. However, it is not the most effective option. Chemotherapy, which is commonly used to treat other types of cancer, is not currently recommended for salivary gland tumors.
Surgery can be used to remove part of the gland or the entire gland if the tumor is affecting nerves or bones. Surgery also can be done to remove lymph nodes.
