Salivary Gland Cancer

What causes salivary gland cancer?

Both benign and malignant (or cancerous) tumors can grow in the salivary glands. The benign tumors include pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin’s tumors. There are several types of malignant salivary gland tumors including mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

While most salivary gland cancers do not have a specific cause, there are certain risk factors which are associated with them. These include older age, exposure to radiation and smoking.

How common is salivary gland cancer?

Salivary gland cancers are uncommon, with about 2000 to 2500 cases occurring per year in the United States.

What are signs and symptoms of salivary gland cancer?

Possible signs and symptoms of salivary gland cancer include a lump in the mouth, cheek, jaw or neck, facial numbness, weakness of the muscles on one side of the face, trouble opening the mouth, or pain in the mouth, cheek, jaw or neck that will not go away. If you develop any of these symptoms, contact our team at Endeavor Health Advanced Neurosciences Center. to book an appointment with our head and neck cancer specialists.

How are salivary gland cancers treated?

Surgery is often the first and only treatment for salivary gland cancer. The goal of surgery is to remove the entire cancer often with a small amount of healthy salivary gland tissue (termed the margin). Surgery may also include removal of lymph nodes from the neck (neck dissection) depending on the type and stage of the cancer.

Radiation and chemotherapy are generally reserved for treatment of patients after surgery, unless there are reasons that surgery cannot be performed. These include patient preference, tumor location and size.