Salivary gland tumor

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Template:Search infobox Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Tumors of the salivary glands (salivary gland neoplasm) are usually benign, but may be malignant. The most common type of benign tumor is pleomorphic adenoma, followed by Warthin's tumor. The most common malignant tumor is mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Eighty percent begin in the parotid gland.[1]

Classification

File:Mixed Tumor of the Salivary Gland.jpg
Benign tumor of the submandibular gland, also known as pleomorphic adenoma, presented as a painless neck mass in a 40-year-old man. At the left of the image is the white tumor with its characteristic cartilaginous cut surface. To the right is the normally lobated submandibular salivary gland.

Salivary gland neoplasms are classified by the World Health Organization as primary or secondary, benign or malignant, and by tissue of origin.[2] This system defines five broad categories of salivary gland neoplasms:[3]

Differential Diagnosis

In alphabetical order the different tumor types that must be differentiated from each other include the folloiwng: [4] [5]

Benign

Malignant

Diagnosis

Symptoms

The most common symptom of major salivary gland cancer is a painless lump in the affected gland, sometimes accompanied by paralysis of the facial nerve. A full list of symptoms includes the following:

Physical Examination

Images courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology

Neck





References

  1. "ACS :: What Is Salivary Gland Cancer?".
  2. IARC, p. 210
  3. IARC, p. 210
  4. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:77 ISBN 1591032016
  5. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:68 ISBN 140510368X


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