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Salivary gland cancer
Classification and external resources
The major salivary glands: the Parotid gland (1), where most salivary gland tumors form, the Submandibular gland (2), and the Sublingual gland (3).
ICD-10	C07.-C08., D11.
ICD-9	142, 210.2
MedlinePlus	001040
MeSH	D012468

Salivary gland cancer is a cancer that forms in tissues of a salivary gland. The salivary glands are classified as major and minor. The major salivary glands consist of the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands. The minor glands include small mucus-secreting glands located throughout the palate, nasal and oral cavity.^[1] Salivary gland cancer is rare, with 2% of head and neck tumors forming in the salivary glands, the majority in the parotid.^[2].

Classification

Salivary gland neoplasms are classified by the World Health Organization as primary or secondary, benign or malignant, and by tissue of origin.^[3] This system defines five broad categories of salivary gland neoplasms, malignant epithelial tumors (e.g. acinic cell carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma), benign epithelial tumors (e.g. pleomorphic adenoma, myoepithelioma and Warthin tumour), soft tissue tumors (Hemangioma), hematolymphoid tumors (e.g. Hodgkin lymphoma), and secondary tumors.^[4]

Signs and 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.

Causes

Pathenogenesis

Diagnosis

Prevention

Treatment

Surgery

Radiotherapy

Chemotherapy

Prognosis

Epidemiology

History

See also

• Head and neck cancer

Notes

References

External links

• Salivary gland cancer entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
• The Patients Forum on Tumors Of The Parotid Gland

 This article incorporates public domain material from the U.S. National Cancer Institute document "Dictionary of Cancer Terms".