Salivary gland neoplasms are abnormal growths of cells in the glands that produce saliva. They can be benign or malignant, and symptoms may include pain, lumps, or decreased facial movement. The three common types of malignancy are mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and low-grade polymorphic adenocarcinoma.
A salivary gland neoplasm is an abnormal growth of the cells that make up the salivary glands. These glands are made up of a number of different types of cells and the unregulated growth of these cells results in malignancies. Some types of neoplasms have malignant characteristics, meaning they can infiltrate surrounding structures and can spread to distant regions, while others are benign and have only self-limiting growth. Cancers are often classified according to the type of cell that has replicated to cause the cancer. Symptoms may include pain, a feeling of a lump, or decreased facial movement or sensation.
To understand the different types of salivary gland neoplasms, it helps to know what these glands are and what types of cells make them up. Humans have large salivary glands located under the tongue, in the under jaw regions, and in the cheek regions under the ears. There are also smaller glands located in the mouth and throat. The function of these glands is to produce saliva, an important substance for the lubrication of food and for some preparations for digestion. To perform these functions, the salivary glands are made up of glandular cells that produce saliva, cells that line the ducts that carry saliva from the gland to the mouth, muscle cells that help move saliva around the mouth, and cells responsible for generating new cells. to replace the old ones that no longer work.
Experts often classify a salivary gland tumor as a benign or malignant tumor. Benign tumors typically grow only in a limited region and do not have the ability to invade surrounding structures or spread to distant regions, while malignant tumors have this ability. One type of benign salivary gland tumor is called a pleomorphic adenoma, and this growth contains a mixture of different cell types including gland cells and muscle cells. In contrast, other types of benign salivary gland neoplasms consist of only one type of cell. Examples of these tumors include Warthin’s tumors, basal cell adenomas, and myoepitheliomas.
There are three common types of salivary gland malignancy. Differentiating between these tumors often relies on taking a sample of the tumor and understanding which salivary gland the tumor originated from, because some types of malignancies occur more frequently in certain locations. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignancy and contains glandular cells and cells that typically line the salivary ducts. Adenoid cystic carcinoma consists of glandular cells and most commonly arises in the smaller salivary glands. Low-grade polymorphic adenocarcinomas also arise from glandular cells that typically produce saliva.
Symptoms may include dry mouth, a feeling of a lump where a salivary gland normally sits, or pain in the salivary gland regions. Although some patients have pain, others may have no symptoms other than the development of a mass. Sometimes a salivary gland tumor can infiltrate the nerves to the face, causing paralysis of the facial muscles or facial pain.
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