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Guidelines for sites linking to mayoclinic.orgThe most common salivary tumors that appear in adults and children include:
This noncancerous tumor is the most common type of salivary gland tumor. It occurs most often in the parotid glands, the salivary glands located in front of the ears. Pleomorphic adenomas are slow-growing and can become quite large. A malignant mixed tumor known as carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma may develop within a pleomorphic adenoma.
About 5 percent of salivary gland tumors develop as mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The most common cancer to occur in the parotid glands, it develops in the cells that make up the salivary gland ducts. It often grows slowly (low-grade cancer), recurs frequently and sometimes metastasizes to other parts of the body (high-grade cancer). Mucoepidermoid carcinomas can occur as either high-, intermediate- or low-grade cancers.
Research shows that adenoid cystic carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the minor salivary glands. It also occurs in the major salivary glands or other regions of the head and neck. In the past, the condition was also called cylindroma. When examined under a microscope, this form of carcinoma creates a Swiss cheese-like pattern; it may also be a solid type. Adenoid cystic carcinoma typically grows slowly along nerve coverings. This can make treatment difficult. The condition typically occurs in patients between the ages of 30 and 60.
This form of salivary gland cancer typically grows slowly in the parotid gland and has well-defined borders. In some cases, the condition can recur many years after the initial surgery.
This form of salivary gland cancer can be aggressive, especially if it is the high-grade type called salivary duct carcinoma. Sometimes it spreads to the lymph nodes and other organs. The average age of patients who have adenocarcinoma is 60.
This condition typically occurs in the major salivary glands. Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, also called a malignant mixed tumor, develops within a benign tumor, a pleomorphic adenoma. The types of cancer cells that grow within the benign tumor determine how aggressively the cancer will behave.
Other rare conditions of the salivary glands include:
Occasionally cancer can appear in the salivary glands as a result of cancers that have spread from other parts of the body.
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