Growth of abnormal cells in the salivary gland that drain the glands. The tumors that are formed in these glands are both non-cancerous also known as benign tumors and malicious or cancerous tumors. 94% of the salivary gland tumors are benign but if they are left untreated they can soon turn cancerous. Only 6% of people get a rare malicious tumor that is cancerous.
Benign Tumors
Malicious Tumors
1. Starts with a painless swelling in one of the salivary glands( Near the chin, ears or in the mouth).
2. Swelling will decrease indicating a real condition and fast growth will indicate a malicious tumor and a slow one indicates benign tumor.
3. Inability to move one side of the face which is known as facial nerve palsy indicates the presence of an advanced tumor and is definitely cancerous.
The medical world is still working to prove the actual root causes but the current risk factors that possibly lead to tumors in the salivary glands are excessive smoking, an aggravated skin cancer that might spread to the salivary glands.
1. For a benign tumor a minimally invasive and painless surgery is recommended to prevent it from becoming malicious.
2. For malicious tumors the salivary gland cancer treatment is possible through a surgery by best head and neck oncologist in hyderabad
3. Superficial parotidectomy can be used to remove small or medium sized tumors but if the tumors spreads beyond the salivary glands then radiation therapy or chemotherapy is required.