🥚 Gastrointestinal🟢 BasicSalivary Glands

Salivary Gland Tumours

Growths of the salivary glands, most of which occur in the parotid gland and most of which are benign.

Key points

Most salivary gland tumours arise in the parotid gland, and most parotid tumours are benign.
The commonest is the pleomorphic adenoma, a benign mixed tumour that can rarely turn malignant if left for many years.
Warthin's tumour is another benign parotid tumour, more common in older men and sometimes present on both sides.
A rule of thumb is that the smaller the salivary gland, the higher the chance that a tumour in it is malignant.
A facial nerve weakness together with a parotid lump is a warning sign of a malignant tumour, because the nerve runs through the gland.

Memory trick

Salivary tumours are mostly in the parotid and mostly benign; pleomorphic adenoma is commonest (benign mixed); Warthin's affects older men and may be bilateral; a smaller gland means more likely malignant; facial weakness warns of malignancy.

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🥚 Gastrointestinal🟢 BasicSalivary Glands

Salivary Gland Tumours

Growths of the salivary glands, most of which occur in the parotid gland and most of which are benign.

Key points

Most salivary gland tumours arise in the parotid gland, and most parotid tumours are benign.
The commonest is the pleomorphic adenoma, a benign mixed tumour that can rarely turn malignant if left for many years.
Warthin's tumour is another benign parotid tumour, more common in older men and sometimes present on both sides.
A rule of thumb is that the smaller the salivary gland, the higher the chance that a tumour in it is malignant.
A facial nerve weakness together with a parotid lump is a warning sign of a malignant tumour, because the nerve runs through the gland.

Memory trick

All of General Surgery More Gastrointestinal