Description

Tumors of the parotid gland are masses of cells that originate in the parotid glands. The parotid glands are two glands that sit just in front of the ears. There is one on each side of the face. The salivary glands produce saliva to help with the chewing and digestion of food.

There are many salivary glands in the lips, the cheeks, the mouth and the throat. Tumors cells, which are called tumors, can occur in any of these glands. The parotid glands are the most common tumors of the salivary gland happen.

The majority of parotid tumours are not cancerous. These are the so-called non-cancerous or benign tumors of the parotid. Sometimes, the tumors are cancers. These are called malignant tumors of the parotid gland or parotid gland cancer types.

The parotid tumours often cause swelling in the face or jaw. Other symptoms include difficulty swallowing, or a loss of facial movement.

Diagnosis and treatment of the tumors of the parotid gland is often done by doctors who specialize in problems that affect the ear, nose, and throat. These doctors are called ENT specialists, or otolaryngologists.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of tumors of the parotid gland are:

  • A lump or swelling in one side of the face that can appear near the ear or cheek.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Difficulty opening the mouth widely.
  • Numbness in the part of the face.
  • Muscle weakness on the part of the face.
  • Pain in the face.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.

Causes

It is not clear what causes tumors of the parotid. These tumors start as a growth of the cells in the parotid glands. The parotid glands are two glands that sit just in front of the ears. There is one on each side of the face. The salivary glands produce saliva to help with the chewing and digestion of food.

The parotid tumours occur when the cells in the parotid glands develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell the cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA contains the instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions that tell cells to die at a set time. In tumor cells, changes in DNA to give different instructions. Changes to say to the tumor cells to grow and multiply quickly. Tumor cells can continue living when healthy cells would die. This makes too many cells.

Sometimes changes in the DNA of rotation of the cells in the cancer cells. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy healthy body tissue. At the time, cancer cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic cancer.

Risk factors

The factors that increase the risk of tumors of the parotid gland are:

  • The increase of the age. The parotid tumours can occur at any age. However, they are more common in older adults.
  • Previous radiation therapy treatments. People who have had radiation therapy to the head and neck in the past, are at an increased risk of tumors of the parotid gland.
  • Exposure to harmful substances. The people who work with certain substances may have an increased risk of salivary gland tumors, including tumors of the parotid. Examples of industries that are associated with a higher risk are those that involve the manufacturing of rubber and nickel.

Diagnosis

Tests and procedures used to diagnose a parotid tumor may include:

  • A physical exam. A health care professional feels the jaw, neck and throat for lumps or swelling.
  • The collection of a sample of tissue for analysis.A biopsy is a procedure to collect a sample of tissue for analysis. It typically involves the use of a needle to collect fluid or tissue of the parotid gland. The needle can be inserted through the skin on the face and in the parotid gland. In the laboratory, the tests can show what types of cells are involved and whether they are cancerous. This information helps your health care team understand your prognosis and what treatments are best for you. The results of a needle biopsy is not always correct. Sometimes, the results say that a non-cancerous tumor when it is. For this reason, some health professionals do not do a biopsy before surgery. Instead, you can take a sample of tissue for testing during the surgery.
  • Imaging tests. Imaging tests help your healthcare team to understand the size and location of the tumor. If your parotid tumor is cancerous, imaging tests help to look for signs that the cancer has spread. The tests may include ultrasound, mri and CT.

The collection of a sample of tissue for analysis. A biopsy is a procedure to collect a sample of tissue for analysis. It typically involves the use of a needle to collect fluid or tissue of the parotid gland. The needle can be inserted through the skin on the face and in the parotid gland.

In the laboratory, the tests can show what types of cells are involved and whether they are cancerous. This information helps your health care team understand your prognosis and what treatments are best for you.

The results of a needle biopsy is not always correct. Sometimes, the results say that a non-cancerous tumor when it is. For this reason, some health professionals do not do a biopsy before surgery. Instead, you can take a sample of tissue for testing during the surgery.

Treatment

Parotid tumor treatment often involves surgery to remove the tumor. If the tumor is cancerous, you might need more treatment. This could be with the radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Surgery

The operations are used to remove tumors of the parotid gland are:

  • The removal of part of the parotid gland. For the majority of the tumors of the parotid gland, the surgeons can cut out the tumor and some of the healthy parotid gland tissue around them. The part of the parotid gland, the left continues to work as before.
  • Delete the entirety of the parotid gland. Surgery to remove the parotid gland is called a parotidectomy. It might be needed for larger tumors, cancerous tumors, and those that affect the deeper parts of the parotid gland.
  • The removal of more tissue to get all of the cancer. If parotid gland cancer has grown in the bones and muscles, some of these can be taken with the parotid gland. Surgeons try to remove all of the cancer and a small amount of healthy tissue that surrounds it. Then they work to repair the area, so that you can continue to chew, swallow, talk, breathe, and move your face. This may involve the change of the skin, tissues, bones, or nerves in other parts of their body to make repairs. This type of surgery is not necessary for parotid tumours that are non-cancerous.

To reach the parotid gland, surgeons make an incision in the skin near the ear. The court is often hidden in a fold of the skin behind the ear.

Sometimes a tissue sample of the tumor has been tested during the surgery to see if it is cancer. A doctor who uses the blood and the tissue of the body to diagnose disease, which is called a pathologist examines the sample immediately. The pathologist says the surgeon if the tumor is cancerous. This helps the surgeon to decide which part of the parotid gland to remove. The pathologist can also do the testing of the lymph nodes and other tissues for signs of cancer.

The parotid gland surrounds the nerve that moves the muscles of the face. This nerve is called the facial nerve. The surgeons take special care to avoid damage. Use of electrical devices to check on the nerve, and make sure it works as expected after the surgery.

Sometimes the facial nerve is stretched during the surgery. This can cause loss of movement in the muscles of the face. The movement of the muscles, often gets better with time. Rarely, the facial nerve must be cut in order to get all of the tumor. Surgeons can repair the facial nerve via the nerve of the other areas of the body, or artificial nerves.

Parotid tumor surgery can be complex. It requires well-trained surgeons and specialists for the best result. If you are facing surgery for a parotid tumor, meet with your surgeon before your operation to make questions. Learn more about the procedure can help you feel more comfortable about your treatment plan. You might consider asking:

  • Where will you cut in the skin to reach the parotid gland? I have a scar?
  • How much of the parotid gland to make you are going to remove it?
  • How likely is it that the facial nerve being injured? How are you going to handle this?
  • How are you going to be sure that you have removed all of the tumor?
  • You are going to remove any of the lymph nodes?
  • I'm going to need reconstructive surgery? What will that involve?
  • What should I expect during recovery? How long does it take to heal?

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. The energy can come from sources such as X-rays and protons.

Radiation therapy is used for the treatment of cancers of the parotid gland. The radiation therapy may be recommended after surgery. Radiation can kill cancer cells that remain. If surgery is not possible, radiation therapy may be the first treatment for cancer of the parotid.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses strong drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is sometimes used for the treatment of cancers of the parotid gland. This may be necessary if there is a risk that the cancer may spread, or if surgery is not an option. In these situations, chemotherapy can be done at the same time as radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy is sometimes used on its own advanced cancer, as the cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy can help to relieve the pain and other symptoms caused by the cancer.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy uses drugs that attack specific chemicals in cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, specific treatments can cause cancer cells to die.

Targeted therapy may be an option for the treatment of cancers of the parotid gland when other treatments have not helped.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.

If your healthcare provider thinks you might have a parotid tumor, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in diseases of the ears, nose, and throat. This doctor is called an OTOLARYNGOLOGIST or an ent. If a diagnosis of cancer, you may also be referred to a doctor who specializes in the treatment of cancer is called an oncologist.

Because appointments can be brief, it is a good idea to be prepared. Here's some information to help you prepare.

What you can do

  • Be conscious of any thing you need to do ahead of time. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there is anything that you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
  • Write down any symptoms you have, including those that do not seem to be related to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write important personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking and the dose.
  • Have a family member or friend. Sometimes it can be very difficult to remember all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who goes with you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
  • Write questions to ask their health care team.

Your time with your health care team is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of their time together. A list of questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For tumors of the parotid, some basic questions to ask include:

  • I have a parotid tumor?
  • It is my parotid tumor cancerous?
  • What is the stage of my parotid tumor?
  • Has my parotid tumor spread to other parts of my body?
  • More evidence is needed?
  • What are the treatment options?
  • How much does it cost each treatment to increase my chances of a cure or to prolong my life?
  • What are the possible side effects of each treatment?
  • How will each treatment affect my daily life?
  • There is a treatment option which you think is the best?
  • What would you recommend to a friend or family member in my situation?
  • You should see a specialist?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?
  • What is going to determine whether I should plan for a follow-up visit?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Be prepared to answer questions, such as:

  • When did your symptoms begin?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of the tumors of the Parotid gland