Salivary Gland Cancer

Cancers which start in one of the salivary glands inside and near your mouth are called salivary gland cancers. Since there are more than one type of salivary glands, many kinds of salivary gland cancers and non-cancerous tumors can start in these glands. Depending upon what cell type they look like when observed under a microscope, cancers in the salivary glands are divided into many types.  

Salivary gland cancers - Grades 

Salivary glands are formed by more than one type of cells and cancer can develop in any of these cells. Based on the abnormality of the the cancer cells, they are graded by the doctors on a scale of low to high.  

  • Grade 1 (low grade) : These cells appear almost identical to other normal cells in the salivary glands. They often tend to develop slowly. 

  • Grade 2 (intermediate grade) : These cells have an outlook and observed appearance that lies somewhere between low grade and high grade category cells. 

  • Grade 3 (high grade) : These cells appear very different from normal cells and often tend to develop and/or outspread quickly. Such cells are also called as poorly differentiated cells.  

    Mucoepidermoid carcinoma 

    These are most common kind of salivary gland carcinomas and usually start developing in the region where parotid glands are located. They don't usually develop in minor salivary glands inside the mouth. These are generally low-grade carcinomas. 

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma  

    This is a group that consists of usually slow growing and low-grade carcinomas. Even then, it is hard to get rid of them as they outspread on nerves present on the inside. The dangerous part is that these tumors often return even after treatment. 

    Adenocarcinomas  

    Adenocarcinoma is a term generally used to account cancers that start in gland cells and cells which usually function to release a certain substance or chemical. There are several kinds of salivary gland adenocarcinomas.  

  • Acinic cell carcinoma

  • Adenocarcinoma - Polymorphous low-grade

  • Rare adenocarcinomas 

    Malignant mixed tumors 

    There are three defined types of such tumors :  

  • Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma

  • Metastasizing mixed tumor

  • Carcinosarcoma  

    Possible symptoms of salivary gland cancers 

    Some of the possible signs and symptoms of such carcinomas are :  

  • Swelling or lump in mouth, cheek or jaw. 

  • Unsettling pain in mouth, cheek, jaw, ear or neck. 

  • Uneven size or shape difference between the right and left sides of the face. 

  • Partial numbness of the face. 

  • Weakness in muscles and trouble while opening mouth widely or while swallowing.