Since the salivary gland tumor is mostly benign, it does not reach a life-threatening size. This organism, which can be found in many different types such as adenomas, oncocytomas, Warthin tumors, benign mixed tumors, can also be malignant in very rare cases. We can state that as high as 70% of these tumors begin in the parotid glands located in front of the ears.
The submandibular glands are located under the chin, and we can say that 50%, that is, about half of the salivary gland tumors that occur in these glands, are malignant. The smallest salivary glands in the mouth are the sublingual glands, and tumors occur very rarely in these glands.
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Salivary Gland Tumor Symptoms
Symptoms of salivary gland tumors in patients can occur in different ways and at the same time with different severity. It is possible to list the common symptoms as follows:
- Swelling in the mouth, cheeks, chin, or neck
- Pain in the lower parts of the face, such as the mouth, cheeks, neck, or jaw
- Difference in size or shape between the right and left sides of the face or neck
- Partial numbness in the face area
- Muscle weakness in some parts of the face
- Difficulty opening mouth
- Fluid coming out of the ear
- Difficulty swallowing
Even if only one of these symptoms occurs, you should definitely consult an otolaryngologist. Because salivary gland tumor is one of the diseases for which early diagnosis is very important. Whether the tumor is benign or malignant should be examined and the necessary treatment protocol should be started.
Salivary Gland Tumor Surgery
If the salivary gland tumor is malignant, that is, if there is cancer, it should be noted that the main treatment is surgical operation. If the cancer is resectable, the cancer can be treated with surgery. In terms of resectability, first of all, it is necessary to look at how far the cancer has spread to nearby tissues. In the case of cancer, all or part of the salivary glands are removed by surgical operation. In some patients, it may be necessary to remove the soft tissue along with the salivary gland. We can say that the aim of the surgical operation is not to leave any cancer cells in the mouth. If the cancer is likely to spread and grow rapidly, or if it has spread to the lymph nodes, a different operation may be needed.
Is Salivary Gland Tumor Benign?
After the salivary gland tumor is detected in the patient, it must be checked whether the tumor is benign or not. MR method can also be used to examine the structure of the tumor. In this way, both the location and structure of this mass can be examined in more detail by the physician. A procedure called a needle biopsy can also be performed. Cells are taken from the mass and it is understood whether the tumors are benign or not. At the same time, it is useful to underline that the biopsy procedure also provides important data regarding treatment.
Patients may be worried about the biopsy procedure, but it should be noted that there is no harm in this procedure. Patients may think that the biopsy caused the tumor to spread, but this information is not correct. The biopsy procedure does not cause the tumor to spread. Let’s underline that it is one of the procedures performed without causing any discomfort to the patient.
Salivary Gland Tumor Treatment
How the treatment will be done is closely related to the structure of the tumor. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the structure and type of the tumor. However, it should be noted that the treatment in general includes surgical intervention. As a result of examinations such as MRI and biopsy, it is checked whether the tumor is benign. If the benign tumors are under the chin, the salivary gland needs to be removed. For tumors occurring in the parotid gland, it should be noted that a part of the salivary gland should be removed as well as the tumor.
If the tumors are malignant, a much more extensive surgery is required. Because sometimes the cancer can spread to the neck, and in this case, neck dissection, which is a procedure in which the neck lymph nodes are cleaned, needs to be performed. If the tumor is malignant, radiation therapy or chemotherapy may also be needed. After the examinations and tests, the type of treatment and treatment stages will be decided by your doctor.