The salivary glands produce saliva that is important to lubricate the oralcavity, help with swallowing, digest food, and protect theteethfrom bacteria. There are three major pairs of salivary glands are:
- Parotid glands are present on both sides of the insides of the cheeks
- Submandibular glands are present at the floor of the mouth
- Sublingual glands are present under the tongue
There are also many minor salivary glands throughout the oralcavityand throat.
Salivary gland tumors are abnormal growths of cells in the salivary glands. They can arise from any of the salivary glands. Salivary glandcancersare rare. Benign (noncancerous) growths of the salivary glands are more common.
What are the signs of salivary gland cancers?
In the initial stages, there may not be any symptoms. People withsalivary gland cancermay experience the following symptoms and signs:
- A lump, which is usually painless, on the face, neck, or mouth
- Numbness over the face
- Restriction of movement of certain facial muscles due to facial nerveparalysis
- Difficulty opening the mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Painand/or swelling in the face, chin, jaw, or neck
- Asymmetry of the face and/or neck
How is salivary gland cancer diagnosed?
The doctor would perform a complete physical exam of any swellings or lumps in the mouth, jaw, neck, and throat.
- Radiological tests, such asmagnetic resonance imaging(MRI),computerized tomography(CT), positron emission tomography (PET),ultrasound, or X-ray may be advised.
- The biopsy is a procedure performed to collect a sample of abnormal tissue using fine-needle aspiration or a core needle biopsy technique. The tissue is then sent to the lab for analysis by the pathologist to determine the type ofcancer.
How is salivary gland cancer treated?
Treatment for salivary gland tumors is usually surgery with additional treatments, such asradiation therapyand chemotherapy.
- Surgery:Surgery for salivary gland tumors may involve the removal of a part of the affected salivary gland or the entire salivary gland, depending on the size of the tumor. Thelymph nodesin the neck may be removed even before they are affected to reduce the risk of spread. After removal of the surgery, reconstructive surgery may be performed to repair the area and restore function to improve the ability to breathe, speak, chew, swallow, and move the face.
- Radiationtherapy:Radiation therapy involves using high-powered energy beams, such asX -rays, to killcancercells and shrink tumors.
- Chemotherapy:Chemotherapy involves using medications to killcancercells. Chemotherapy isn't currently used as a standard treatment for salivary gland cancer. They are also beneficial in the case ofmetastasis.
- Supportive (palliative) care:Palliative care involves providing relief frompainand other symptoms due to a serious illness when it is not treatable.
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References
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/salivary-gland-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-and-symptoms.html
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/salivary-gland-cancer#1
https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/patient/adult/salivary-gland-treatment-pdq
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/salivary-gland-cancer#1
https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/patient/adult/salivary-gland-treatment-pdq
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artificial saliva
人工唾液唾液作为替代to relieve the symptoms of dry mouth (xerostomia) when natural saliva production is deficient or absent due to certain conditions. Artificial saliva is also used to alleviate oral inflammation (mucositis) from chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments for cancer. Common side effects of artificial saliva include taste perversion (dysgeusia), swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), minor gastrointestinal problems, and speech disturbance. Artificial saliva has no listed drug interactions. Consult your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Cancer
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
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Glycerin oropharyngeal is an oral gel available over-the-counter and is used for temporary relief from dry mouth (xerostomia) in adults and children. Glycerin is used for relief of pain and irritation from sore throat and minor dental procedures, and dry or sore mouth caused by conditions such as canker sores, diabetes, Sjogren’s syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, certain medications, and vitamin deficiencies. There are no reports of adverse effects from glycerin oropharyngeal. Oral ingestion of excessive amounts may cause nausea, vomiting, headache, confusion, rash, and swelling.
What Is the Survival Rate of Salivary Gland Cancer?
The survival rate of salivary gland cancer depends on several factors. The overall five-year survival rate for salivary gland cancer in the United States is 75 percent. The survival rate depends on the type and stage of the salivary gland cancer. The five-year survival rate for people with early-stage (localized) salivary gland cancer is 94 percent. The five-year survival rate for people with salivary gland cancer that spreads to nearby structures and lymph nodes is 67 percent. The five-year survival rate for people with advanced-stage (metastatic) cancer is 44 percent.