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Parotid adenomas are usually benign tumors that develop in the largest salivary glands. Symptoms vary, but surgical removal is the best option to avoid potential complications and the possibility of the tumor turning malignant. Recurrence is possible but rare.
The parotid glands are the largest salivary glands, and a parotid adenoma is a tumor that can develop within one of them. Quite often, a growth in a parotid gland will turn out to be what’s called a benign tumor, meaning it’s not cancerous, and parotid adenomas are no exception, typically being benign. The most common parotid tumor is an adenoma known as a benign pleomorphic adenoma, and while other types of adenomas can develop, they are rare. Benign pleomorphic adenomas are sometimes known as benign mixed tumors. They consist of an external capsule that encloses epithelial tissue, their growth is slow, and they are usually successfully treated by surgical removal.
Symptoms associated with a parotid adenoma can vary depending on where in the gland the tumor is located. Most frequently, the tumor grows very slowly, perhaps over a number of years, and is not painful. Often, a parotid adenoma can be discovered in the form of a lump seen on the face, perhaps while a person is bathing. Sometimes, the growths can form a lump that can be felt inside the mouth or throat. Very rarely, the facial nerve can be damaged by the tumor, leading to paralysis of part of the face, but this tends to happen more often in association with cancerous growths.
Treatment of a parotid adenoma involves surgery to remove the tumor and part of the parotid gland, while carefully avoiding damage to the facial nerve. Because the facial nerve divides within the parotid gland, its major branches are glandular in origin and could potentially be severed during an operation. Possible health complications could therefore include loss of facial muscle movement, secretion of tears and saliva, and some taste sensation. Although parotid adenomas are usually benign, in less than 10% of cases a tumor that has been left untreated for a long time can turn malignant or cancerous. This means that surgical removal is a better option than leaving a tumor in place.
Occasionally, a parotid adenoma will recur after surgery. This is more likely to happen in cases where the growth did not have a complete capsule around it or where the tumor had grown beyond its capsule. Rarely, tumors may burst while an operation is in progress so that the cancer cells spread to their original location and this can also increase the chance of recurrence. Fortunately, surgery is usually done successfully, and the outlook for someone with a parotid adenoma is generally positive.
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