What You Should Know About Salivary Gland Tumor Diagnosis and Care
A salivary gland tumor is an abnormal growth that forms in the salivary glands. These glands produce saliva, which helps in digestion and keeps the mouth moist. There are several salivary glands in the body, but the largest one is the parotid gland. The parotid gland is located in front of the ear and extends down to the angle of the jaw. It develops early in the embryo stage, at the same time as nearby nerves and lymph nodes. Because of this, the gland is closely connected with the facial nerve, which controls facial movement, and lymph nodes, which help fight infection. A parotid tumor forms when cells in this gland grow abnormally. These tumors can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Are salivary gland tumors benign or cancerous? Most salivary gland tumors are benign. Around 85% of parotid tumors are non-cancerous, while only about 15% are malignant. The most common type of benign tumor is called a pleomorphic adenoma, also known as...