Salivary gland cancer

Overview

Salivary glands make saliva, which keeps your mouth moist and helps you digest food. You have three pairs of major salivary glands — in front of each ear (parotid), under your tongue (sublingual) and below your jawbone (submandibular). In addition, hundreds of tiny salivary glands line your mouth, nose and throat.

Most large salivary gland tumors start in the parotid glands. Most small salivary gland tumors start in the roof of the mouth (palate). Salivary gland cancers are rare — more than half the salivary gland tumors are not cancerous (benign). In most cases, the cause isn't known, but risk factors may include older age, radiation treatment to the head and neck, and workplace exposure to certain substances.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for salivary gland cancer

• Expertise and experience. Mayo Clinic specialists have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating salivary gland cancer. Mayo Clinic pathologists are internationally known for their expertise in assessing biopsy samples, including the wide variety of salivary gland cancers.
• Multispecialty team. Your care will be directed by ear, nose and throat (ENT) experts specializing in head and neck cancers who coordinate your multispecialty team. Team members may include experts in radiation oncology, medical oncology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation therapies, and other specialties as needed.
• Latest technology. At Mayo Clinic, your doctors use the latest treatment options and technology to treat your salivary gland cancer, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy or stereotactic body radiotherapy.
• Minimally invasive techniques. Mayo specialists pioneered minimally invasive treatments for salivary gland cancer and use these methods whenever possible to minimize impact on facial muscles and the ability to swallow and speak.
• Comprehensive cancer center. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center meets strict standards for a National Cancer Institute comprehensive cancer center, recognizing scientific excellence and a multispecialty approach focused on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked among the Best Hospitals for cancer by U.S. News & World Report.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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