Salivary Gland Cancer - Symptoms & Treatment
Overview
The salivary glands are located around the mouth. The saliva produced by the salivary glands moistens food and helps with chewing and swallowing, it also contains and enzyme called Salivary Amylase…
Risk Factors
- Radiation – People who have received radiation therapy as part of treatment for head and neck cancers
- Gender – It is more common in men than women.
- Tobacco – This includes smoking, snuff and chewing tobacco.
- Exposure to certain environmental factors such as nickel alloy dust, silica dust and asbestos
Signs and Symptoms
- Most benign and malignant tumors manifest as a painless mass in front of the ears, under the chin or on the floor of the mouth.
- However, malignant tumors may invade nerves, causing
Diagnosis
- Imaging
- CT scan is a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses x-rays to build cross-sectional images of the body. It also helps to identify the spread of cancer.
Treatment
Treatment of benign tumors is surgery. Although mixed tumors are benign, they will recur after surgery unless they are completely removed. The aim of the operation is to completely excise the tumor with an adequate margin of normal tissue.
FAQ
- Is salivary gland tumor dangerous?
- What is the most common salivary gland tumor?
- Can you feel a parotid tumor?
- Are all salivary glands swellings malignant?
