Salivary Gland Cancer

Diagnosis

Patients with a suspected salivary gland cancer first have an extensive physical examination. The doctor feels the head, neck and jaw for lumps and swelling, examines the inside of the mouth and areas where you have pain, and checks the workings of facial nerves and muscles. Most patients will then have X-rays, CT, PET-CT or MRI scans to find a tumor and determine its size and spread.

Ascertaining whether a salivary gland tumor is cancerous or benign can be difficult. Mayo Clinic has a unique frozen section pathology lab where pathologists analyze patient tissue quickly and accurately during surgery. This helps surgeons determine whether they have removed the entire tumor and whether it is cancerous while the patient is still in the operating room. This prevents the need to wait for a pathology report and possibly having to return for additional surgery.