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Name: Salivary Gland Tumors
Description: Cancer in Salivary Gland
This casebook is published and has been read 2994 times.
The author of this casebook has identified the following medical topics as being highly relevant to this casebook.
There are several pairs of salivary
glands in the mouth: in front of the ears (parotid glands), under the
jaw (submanibular glands) and under the tongue (subligual glands).
These all produce saliva, which is the lubricating fluid
found in the mouth. Saliva contains enzymes that begin the
process of digesting food as well as antibodies and other
substances that help prevent infections of the mouth and throat.
A
tumor can form in any of these glands, but the most common location for
cancerous tumors is in the parotid gland. Not every lump in a salivary
gland is cancer, as many benign tumors and other conditions (such as
infections and salivary gland stones) can also cause lumps. The exact cause of salivary gland cancer is unknown. In some
cases, cancer may develop due to DNA damage after
years of tobacco use or exposure to radiation. Heredity also may
play a role in the development of salivary gland cancer.
Symptoms of a salivary tumor include:
Bookmarks The following information, which has been distilled by the casebook author from this and other websites is particularly relevant to this casebook.
- A lump (usually painless) in the area of the ear, cheek, jaw, lip, or inside the mouth.
- Trouble swallowing or opening the mouth widely.
- Numbness or weakness in the face.
- Pain in the face that does not go away.
| Web Page | Notes | Concepts |
|---|---|---|
| Good overview from Mayo CLinic | (Salivary gland carcinoma) | |
| From the American Cancer Society | (Salivary Gland Neoplasms) | |
| Excellent overview from the National Cancer institute | (Salivary gland carcinoma) | |
| Extensive overview from Medline Plus | (Salivary gland carcinoma) | |
