From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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].
[edit] 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]
[edit] 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.
[edit] Causes
[edit] Pathenogenesis
[edit] Diagnosis
[edit] Prevention
[edit] Treatment
[edit] Surgery
[edit] Radiotherapy
[edit] Chemotherapy
[edit] Prognosis
[edit] Epidemiology
[edit] History
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
This article incorporates public domain material from the U.S. National Cancer Institute document "Dictionary of Cancer Terms".
