Salivary Gland Tumors

Treatment

Salivary gland cancers are potentially serious and are best managed in a setting in which experienced head and neck surgeons, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, reconstructive surgeons and other specialists work together. Physicians at Mayo Clinic use the latest medical and surgical therapies available to treat salivary gland tumors.

Surgery

For almost all tumors of the salivary glands — benign or malignant — physicians recommend surgery. Surgical removal may be the only treatment necessary for benign salivary gland tumors. Whenever possible, surgeons remove the entire affected gland, not just the tumor. The amount of gland removed removed depends upon the tumor's size and location in the gland. If the facial nerve is functioning normally before surgery, preservation of the nerve function is generally the expected finaloutcomes for benign and most malignant parotid tumors. Otorhinolaryngologists or oral and maxillofacial surgeons typically perform salivary gland surgery.

At Mayo Clinic, skilled surgical pathologists work with the surgeon during the operation to determine if the tumor is benign or malignant. For certain malignancies, the surgeon can immediately remove the necessary tissue around the cancer and any nearby lymph nodes to which the cancer may have spread. This prevents the need to wait for a pathology report and possibly return for additional surgery several days later.

Other Therapies

Depending upon the stage and type of salivary gland tumor, a patient may need radiation therapy, chemotherapy or both. Mayo Clinic physicians use state-of-the-art radiation therapy including intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery. These technologies treat the cancer while limiting radiation to critical healthy tissues such as the eyes, optic nerves, brain, brain stem and spinal cord.

For advanced cases of salivary gland cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, chemotherapy may be necessary. This treatment uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Experienced medical oncologists may administer chemotherapy orally or directly into the patient's veins.