Salivary Glands Flashcards
What are sialolithiasis?
salivary stones
Where do sialolithiasis usually affect?
submandibular glands - secretions richer in calcium and thicker
What are the signs and symptoms of sialolithiasis?
pain and tense swelling of the gland during/after meals
stone may be palpable in the floor of the mouth
What is the treatment of sialolithiasis?
small stones may pass spontaneously - sialogogues may help
larger stones may need surgical removal
What are the general rules of tumours of the salivary glands?
parotid is most common site
tumours in smaller glands are more likely to be malignant
young + painful mass = think malignant
What are the risk factors for malignancy in the salivary glands?
radiation to the neck
smoking
What symptoms are suggestive of cancer of the salivary glands?
hard fixed mass +/- pain
may be overlying skin ulceration and local lymph node enlargement
tumours do not vary in size (e.g. when eating) as seen in inflammation or sialolithiasis
facial nerve palsy
When should a patient be referred to ENT for a suspected salivary gland cancer?
unexplained persistent salivary gland swelling
unexplained neck lump
previously undiagnosed neck lump that that has changed over a period of 3-6 weeks
What are the investigations for salivary gland tumours?
US
MRI
fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC)
CT guided biopsy
What are the characteristics of a pleomorphic adenoma?
slow-growing
most common benign tumour of the salivary glands
occurs in middle age
may turn malignant if present for may years
How is pleomorphic adenoma diagnosed?
fine needle aspiration cytology
What is the treatment for pleomorphic adenoma?
surgery
What are the characteristics of Warthin’s tumour/adenolymphoma?
benign
strong association with smoking
usually occur in men >50
rare outside the parotid gland
What is the treatment for Warthin’s tumour/adenolymphoma?
partial parotidectomy
What is a mucoepidermoid carcinoma?
most common worldwide malignant tumour of the salivary glands
