SALIVARY GLAND CANCER

-


 The salivary organs produce saliva and deliver it into the mouth. Saliva has chemicals that assist with processing food and antibodies that help safeguard against diseases of the mouth and throat. There are 3 sets of major salivary organs: 


  • Parotid glands: These are the largest salivary glands and are found in front of and just below each ear. Most major salivary gland tumors begin in this gland.

  • Sublingual glands: These glands are found under the tongue in the floor of the mouth.

  • Submandibular glands: These glands are found below the jawbone.


There are also many small (minor) salivary organs lining parts of the mouth, nose, and larynx that should be visible just with a magnifying instrument. Most little salivary organ growths start in the sense of taste (top of the mouth).


Symptoms:


  • A lump (usually painless) in the area of the ear, cheek, jaw, lip, or inside the mouth.

  • Fluid draining from the ear.

  • Trouble swallowing or opening the mouth widely.

  • Numbness or weakness in the face.

  • Pain in the face that does not go away.


The bigger part of all salivary organ growths are harmless (not malignant) and don't spread to different tissues. Salivary organ disease is a sort of head and neck malignant growth.


Salivary organ disease may not bring about any side effects. It might very well be found during a normal dental examination or actual test. Signs and side effects might be brought about by salivary organ disease or by different circumstances.


The following procedures may be used:


  • Physical exam and health history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health. The head, neck, mouth, and throat will be checked for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient's health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.

  • MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).

  • CT scan (CAT scan): A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.

  • Endoscopy: A procedure to look at organs and tissues inside the body to check for abnormal areas. For salivary gland cancer, an endoscope is inserted into the mouth to look at the mouth, throat, and larynx. An endoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing.

  • Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer.

    • Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy: The removal of tissue or fluid using a thin needle. An FNA is the most common type of biopsy used for salivary gland cancer.

    • Incisional biopsy: The removal of part of a lump or a sample of tissue that doesn’t look normal.

    • Surgery: If cancer cannot be diagnosed from the sample of tissue removed during an FNA biopsy or an incisional biopsy, the mass may be removed and checked for signs of cancer.



The treatment options and prognosis depend on the following:


  • The stage of the cancer (especially the size of the tumor).

  • The type of salivary gland the cancer is in.

  • The type of cancer cells (how they look under a microscope).

  • The patient's age and general health.



Since salivary organ disease can be difficult to analyze, patients ought to request to have the tissue tests checked by a pathologist who has insight in diagnosing salivary organ malignant growth.




Dr. Suvro Ganguly is one of the best Surgeons in Kolkata in the Department of Oncosurgery with special interest in Coloproctology. He joined Apollo Gleneagles Hospital in December 2018 and is practicing as a Surgeon in the Department of Oncosurgery with special interest in Coloproctology. He specializes in colorectal surgery, cancer surgery, advanced laparoscopy, advanced GI surgery and laser proctology.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Arrhythmia surgery

-
Image
  Arrhythmia surgery is a medical procedure performed to treat irregular heartbeats, also known as arrhythmias. These abnormal heart rhythms can cause symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, and even chest pain. If left untreated, they can lead to serious complications, such as stroke or heart failure. Arrhythmia surgery is usually recommended when medication and other non-invasive treatments fail to control the irregular heartbeats. The procedure involves the use of various techniques to destroy or modify the abnormal electrical pathways in the heart. Some of the techniques used in arrhythmia surgery include catheter ablation, maze procedure, and implantable devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators. Catheter ablation is a minimally invasive procedure in which a thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted through a vein in the groin and threaded up to the heart. Once in the heart, the catheter is used to deliver energy (such as radiofrequency or cryotherapy)...
Read more

CANCER AND MENTAL HEALTH- IT DOESN’T JUST AFFECT YOUR BODY

-
Image
As far as treatment for cancer goes, with recent technology and advanced methods of treating the disease the procedure has of course become a lot less painful and efficient, decreasing mortality rate by quite a lot as compared to traditional methods of treatment. Doctors now have a better understanding of the causes, symptoms and effects and how to treat their patients accurately. The patients too are always updated and consoled to the best one can, but does it mean that those affected are free of mental and emotional distress? Unfortunately the answer is still a no for this one. Knowing that one has ‘cancer’, irrespective of the sort and the intensity, the word itself has the capability to put a person into deep distress. Feelings of depression, anxiety and fear are very common in such cases. It is a tug of war between life and death and the exhaustion of anticipation is clearly high on a person and their loved ones. No matter how much knowledge and sympathy or compassion one might ge...
Read more

Blood Cancer- Part 2

-
Image
  How is blood cancer diagnosed? A physical examination to check your overall health is often the first step in making a diagnosis. Your doctor will look at your body and lymph nodes, look for signs of infection, and review your medical history. The diagnosis of blood cancer can be made with a variety of tests and procedures. The type of blood cancer that is suspected will dictate what you need. In order to make a diagnosis, your care team may suggest testing and evaluate all of the results with you. Biopsies A biopsy is a procedure that takes cell samples for a pathologist to look at in a lab. A lymph node biopsy, which involves taking a sample of lymph tissue or the entire lymph node, may be required for certain types of blood cancer, such as lymphoma. Certain types of blood cancer can be identified by testing your bone marrow, the place where blood cells are made. A bone marrow aspiration is a method by which a small amount of blood, bone, and bone are taken from either a breast...
Read more