The information on this website is not intended for diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your physician for health concerns.

+90 850 321 50 00

Salivary Gland Cancer

Heterogeneous group of malignancies arising from major and minor salivary glands.

Written by: Saygı Hospital Health Guide Editorial Board
Last updated:

This content has been compiled by the Saygı Hospital Health Guide Editorial Board and is periodically reviewed by a specialist physician.

References (5)

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. You can book an appointment at our Onkoloji department. Book Appointment →

What is Salivary Gland Cancer?

Salivary gland cancers comprise a diverse group of over 20 histologic subtypes including mucoepidermoid carcinoma (most common), adenoid cystic carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, salivary duct carcinoma, polymorphous adenocarcinoma, and salivary carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma. They arise from the parotid (most common, 60-70%), submandibular, sublingual, and minor salivary glands of the oral cavity, paranasal sinuses, and upper aerodigestive tract.

Risk factors include prior head and neck radiation, ionizing radiation exposure, possibly viral infections (EBV, HPV), and rare familial syndromes. Most parotid tumors are benign (80%), but in the submandibular and sublingual glands, malignancy probability rises to 50%.

Patients present with painless swelling, facial nerve weakness (red flag), trismus, or lymphadenopathy. Workup includes ultrasound, MRI (best for perineural spread), fine-needle aspiration, and core biopsy. Surgical resection (parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation when possible) is the cornerstone, with elective neck dissection for high-grade tumors. Adjuvant radiotherapy is indicated for high-grade, advanced T-stage, perineural invasion, lymph node positivity, or close margins.

Symptoms

Painless preauricular, submandibular, or oral mass
Slowly growing parotid swelling
Facial nerve weakness or paralysis (high suspicion of malignancy)
Pain or tenderness over the gland
Numbness in face or tongue
Trismus or jaw stiffness
Skin fixation or ulceration over mass
Cervical lymphadenopathy
Otalgia (ear pain)
Dysphagia
Neck mass with no other obvious primary
Persistent unilateral xerostomia
Symptoms of distant metastasis (lung most common in adenoid cystic)

Risk Factors

Prior head and neck radiotherapy
Ionizing radiation exposure
Workplace exposure: nickel, chromium, asbestos, rubber
EBV (some lymphoepithelial carcinomas)
HPV (rare subtypes)
Smoking (Warthin tumor mostly, mild risk for malignancy)
Alcohol use
Familial salivary cancer syndromes (rare)
Sjogren syndrome (lymphoma risk in salivary glands)
Age over 50
Male sex (slightly more common)

When to See a Doctor?

If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention promptly:

  • Painless mass in front of ear, under jaw, or in mouth
  • Facial drooping with parotid mass (urgent)
  • Numbness in face or tongue
  • Skin fixation or ulceration over swelling
  • Cervical lymphadenopathy with parotid mass
  • Trismus or jaw stiffness
  • Persistent unilateral salivary swelling beyond 4 weeks
  • Pain or rapid growth of known salivary mass
  • Prior head and neck radiation with new mass

Treatment Methods

01
Head and neck oncology referral
02
Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA)
03
Core needle biopsy for indeterminate FNA
04
MRI with contrast (best for facial nerve and perineural assessment)
05
CT chest for staging in high-grade or symptomatic disease
06
Audiogram and dental evaluation pre-treatment
07
Multidisciplinary tumor board
08
Superficial parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation when feasible
09
Total parotidectomy with nerve sparing or sacrifice (with grafting) for deep lobe or nerve-involved tumors
10
Submandibular gland resection (level Ib dissection)
11
Sublingual or minor gland excision with adequate margins
12
Selective neck dissection for high-grade or T3-T4 tumors
13
Sentinel node biopsy in selected cases
14
Free flap reconstruction for large defects
15
Adjuvant intensity-modulated radiotherapy 60-66 Gy
16
Concurrent chemoradiation in selected high-risk cases (limited evidence)
17
Targeted therapy: HER2+ disease (trastuzumab), androgen receptor+ (bicalutamide), NTRK fusions (larotrectinib, entrectinib)
18
Pembrolizumab for select metastatic disease
19
Salvage surgery for recurrence
20
Facial nerve rehabilitation: physical therapy, eye care, surgical reanimation
21
Speech and swallow therapy
22
Dental rehabilitation post-radiation
23
Long-term surveillance: q3 months for 2 years, then biannual to year 5 (longer for adenoid cystic given late recurrences)
24
Palliative care for advanced or recurrent disease

Which Department to Visit?

You can visit our Onkoloji department for these complaints. Our specialist physicians will create the most suitable treatment plan for you.

Learn About Onkoloji Department

Let us help you

You can make an appointment with our specialists or contact us for your concerns.

Book AppointmentContact Us

Related Health Topics

Other articles from the same department you may want to explore.

Anaemia

Dahiliye (İç Hastalıkları)

Anaemia is a low haemoglobin level that reduces oxygen delivery, causing fatigue, pallor, and shortness of breath. It is not a disease itself but a sign of many underlying conditions. Most cases are correctable with appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Iron Deficiency Anaemia

Dahiliye (İç Hastalıkları)

Iron deficiency anaemia develops when dietary intake, absorption, or losses create an iron shortfall, most often affecting women and children. Identifying the underlying cause is the core of management, alongside iron replacement.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Dahiliye (İç Hastalıkları)

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause megaloblastic anaemia, neurological symptoms, and cognitive impairment. Early treatment with intramuscular or oral B12 largely prevents irreversible complications.

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) Management

Dahiliye (İç Hastalıkları)

Hypertension is often called the silent killer because it progresses symptom-free for years and can damage the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes. Regular monitoring, lifestyle change, and evidence-based drug therapy dramatically reduce cardiovascular risk.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Dahiliye (İç Hastalıkları)

Chronic kidney disease is one of the most common complications of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, and can be silent in its early stages.

Hepatitis B (HBV)

Dahiliye (İç Hastalıkları)

Hepatitis B is a DNA virus infection causing acute and chronic hepatitis with risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma; diagnosis integrates HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBc, and HBV DNA with management based on disease phase using nucleos(t)ide analogues (entecavir, tenofovir) and universal infant vaccination.

Hepatitis C (HCV)

Dahiliye (İç Hastalıkları)

Hepatitis C is an RNA virus causing chronic hepatitis that may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma; modern direct-acting antiviral (DAA) pangenotypic regimens (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir) achieve sustained virologic response over 95% in 8–12 weeks with universal adult screening and cure for nearly all patients.

Fatty Liver Disease

Dahiliye (İç Hastalıkları)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely related to obesity and metabolic syndrome and is largely reversible with early treatment.

Health Disclaimer: The information on this page is prepared for general informational purposes only. It does not replace medical diagnosis and treatment. Please consult your physician for your complaints. Saygı Hospital does not accept responsibility for actions taken based on the information on this page.