Parotid tumour Flashcards
1
Q
What is the definition of a parotid tumour?
A
A mass in the parotid gland
2
Q
How common is a parotid tumour?
A
80% of salivary gland tumours occur in the parotid gland
Nearly 80% are benign
3
Q
What is the pathology of a parotid gland tumour?
A
- Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (grade III) – most common malignancy of the parotid gland
- Limited local invasion, low metastatic potential
- Pleomorphic adenomas aka benign mixed tumour – most common tumour of the parotid gland
- Slow growing, lobular, not well encapsulated
- Warthin’s tumour – 2nd most common benign salivary gland neoplasm
- Most commonly occur in the tail of the gland
4
Q
What are the risk factors/aetiology of parotid tumours?
A
- Radiation
- Smoking – especially for Warthin’s tumour
- ?Mobile phone use
- History of previous skin cancer
- Sjogren’s syndrome
5
Q
What are the signs/symptoms of a parotid tumour?
A
- Lump - firm, soft, irregular, smooth, fluid filled, size, fixation, tenderness
- Skin ulceration
- Facial nerve weakness/palsy
- Ulceration/induration
- Pain/painless
- Blood/pus from Stenson’s duct – sign of malignancy
- Trismus (jaw lock) – in advanced disease
- Dysphagia – tumour in deep lobe of the gland
6
Q
What investigations are carried out for suspected parotid tumours?
A
- Ultrasound +/- fine needle aspiration cytology
- MRI/CT
- Sialography
- Sonography
7
Q
What are the surgical treatments for parotid tumours?
A
- Local ablation
- Superficial paroidectomy
- Complete excision of tumour
- Radiotherapy
