Salivary Gland Tumors

Types

The most common malignant salivary tumors that appear in children and adults include:

• Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
• Adenoid cystic carcinoma
• Acinic cell carcinoma
• Adenocarcinoma

Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma

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 cancers), recurs frequently and sometimes metastasizes to other parts of the body (high grade cancers). Mucoepidermoid carcinomas can occur as either high-, intermediate-, or low-grade cancers.

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

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 or 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 who are between ages 30 and 60.

Acinic Cell Carcinoma

This form of salivary gland cancer typically grows slowly in the parotid gland and has well-defined borders. In some cases, the condition recurs up to 30 years after the initial surgery.

Adenocarcinoma

This form of salivary gland cancer can be aggressive, especially if it is a high-grade type called salivary duct carcinoma. Sometimes it spreads to the lymph nodes and other organs. The average age of patients who suffer from this condition is 60.

Carcinoma Ex Pleomorphic Adenoma

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 aggressive the cancer will behave.

Other rare conditions of the salivary glands include:

• Polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma
• Epithelial myoepithelial carcinoma
• Carcinosarcomas
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Lymphomas

Occasionally cancer can appear in the salivary glands as a result of cancers that have spread from other parts of the body.