Salivary glands are organs or organlets located in our head and neck region, which discharge the digestive secretion (saliva) they produce through special channels to areas such as the mouth, throat, pharynx, nose and sinuses.
We have right and left sides on our face. There are six major (large) salivary glands, three on each side, as well as hundreds of minor (microscopic) salivary glands scattered within the mucosa. The secretion they create, in addition to helping digestion, also provides the necessary wetness and moisture for the mouth, throat, nose and larynx cavities.
What is the salivary gland?
The salivary gland is located in our head and neck area. They are organs or organlets that discharge the digestive secretion (saliva) they produce to areas such as the mouth, throat, pharynx, nose and sinuses, to which they are connected through special channels.
There are six major (large) spits on our face, three on the right and left sides. In addition to the salivary glands, there are hundreds of minor (microscopic) salivary glands scattered within the mucosa. The secretion they create, in addition to aiding digestion, also provides the necessary wetness and moisture for the mouth, throat, nose and laryngeal cavities, and also forms a defense mechanism against microorganisms that cause infection.
Major Salivary Glands:
- Parotid Gland: Salivary gland in front of the ear
- Submandibular Gland: Salivary gland under the jaw
- Sublingual Gland:Sublingual salivary gland
Parotid salivary gland
Parotid salivary glands are located in front of our ear on both sides of our face. These are the organs that extend downwards behind the corner of the jaw. The most important detail about these diapers; The facial nerve that enables us to make facial mimic movements passes through the parotid salivary glands.
The facial nerve passes through the ear bone, leaves the skull through the mastoid protrusion (under-ear protrusion), and immediately enters the parotid salivary gland, where it will be distributed to the facial muscles. It gives off its branches.
The parotid gland is divided into two anatomical parts in relation to the facial nerve. The part of the salivary gland that lies under the skin on the surface of this nerve and its branches is called the parotid superficial lobe. This nerve is deep The part of the jawbone that remains in the back-deep part of the jawbone is called the parotid deep lobe.
Submandibular salivary gland
This gland, which is called submandibular, meaning under the lower jawbone, is located under our chin. There is one on each side and it is our second largest salivary gland after the parotid. Saliva-carrying ducts open under our tongue, just behind our lower front incisors, to the sides of the midline. The marginal mandibular nerve, one of the lower branches of the facial nerve, passes through the surface of the sheath of this gland.
Sublingual salivary gland:
This gland, called sublingual, meaning under the tongue, is on both sides of the tongue. It is located at the back and bottom. Tumors of this gland, which discharges the saliva it produces into the mouth through more than one channel, are much rarer than the parotid and submandibular glands.
Minor salivary glands:
Mouth, throat, pharynx, larynx, etc. We call the covering layer covering the areas mucosa. In order for this mucosa to remain moist, hundreds of microscopic structures that cannot be seen with the naked eye, namely minor salivary glands, settle in these areas and produce saliva 24 hours a day and secrete it into these spaces. Thus, drying of the mucosa is prevented.
What is a salivary gland tumor?
The word tumor, which means swelling in Latin, is a term used in medicine to indicate masses formed by the uncontrolled growth of cells. Just as tumors can occur in any tissue in the body, tumors can also occur in the salivary glands. Tumors are divided into benign and malignant tumors. Benign tumors grow slower. They do not metastasize (spread) to surrounding and distant organs. They are often surrounded by a thin, membranous sheath called a capsule and do not invade (occupy, gnaw) the surrounding tissues. They usually grow by pushing the surrounding tissues and making room for themselves. This growth occurs over months or even years. Benign tumors do not cause pain, patients very rarely complain of pain. If there is pain, it is usually due to indirect causes rather than the tumor itself.
Malignant tumors grow faster, affecting regional lymph nodes and additional organs (lung, liver, etc.). brain, bone, etc.) have the potential to metastasize (spread). They invade the surrounding tissues and develop by disrupting their functions. For example, when they reach the nerves adjacent to their location, they begin to disrupt their functions. Additionally, malignant tumors begin to cause pain after they reach a certain size. This pain may be due to the tumor occupying structures such as bone and jaw joint, or it may occur when it directly reaches the nerves that carry the sensation and pain sensation of the head and face area.
In summary, salivary gland tumor occurs in the large salivary glands (parotid glands) located in the head and neck region. gland / parotid gland, submandibular salivary gland, sublingual salivary gland) or benign or malignant growths that develop in the microscopic salivary glands within the layer called mucosa covering areas such as the nose, sinuses, mouth, throat, pharynx and larynx.
Where are salivary gland tumors seen?
Salivary gland tumors are most commonly seen in the parotid gland. Rarely, tumors may also occur in the submandibular and, more rarely, sublingual glands. In addition, salivary gland tumors can also develop in the nose, sinuses, mouth, throat, pharynx, larynx, and deep parts of the neck called the parapharyngeal region, where minor salivary glands are located.
For example, such as the nose, palate, or base of the tongue. The result of a biopsy taken from a mass in one area may be reported by a pathologist as a tumor originating from the salivary gland. In this case, the tumor is most likely thought to originate from the microscopic salivary glands within the covering layer covering the inner surfaces, called the mucosa.
As we mentioned above, most salivary gland tumors arise from the parotid gland, especially the superficial lobe of the gland. Rarely, a tumor may also develop in the salivary gland tissue in the deep lobe. Tumors that develop in the deep lobe appear as a hardness and mass in the back-deep part of the lower jaw bone, under the earlobe and sub-auricular protrusion, and are noticed later than superficial lobe tumors.
What are the types of salivary gland tumors?
Most common The most common salivary gland tumor is pleomorphic adenoma, also known as mixed tumor. Roughly, more than half of the salivary gland tumors consist of pleomorphic adenoma, which is a benign tumor.
Under this heading, some common benign and malignant salivary gland tumors are briefly described.
Benign Tumors
Pleomorphic adenoma, also known as mixed tumor, is the most common salivary gland tumor. More than half of salivary gland tumors are made up of pleomorphic adenoma, which is a benign tumor. It is most commonly seen in the parotid gland. In this case, the symptom will be a swelling in front of the ear or under the earlobe. Additionally, it may arise from the submandibular salivary gland (swelling under the chin) or microscopic salivary glands in areas such as the palate, throat and pharynx, causing swelling in those areas. If this tumor is not treated, it carries the risk of changing its behavior over the years and turning into a malignant tumor. In this condition, called 'Carcinoma Ex Pleomorphic Adenoma', the mass that has existed for years and has been growing very slowly changes its behavior and begins to grow rapidly.
Warthin tumor is the second most common benign tumor. It is a gland tumor. This tumor most commonly arises from the parotid gland. Warthin tumor is more common in men. This tumor, which originates almost exclusively from the parotid gland, accounts for 10% of all parotid gland tumors. It is thought to be associated with tobacco and smoking habits.
A feature of this tumor, which has smoother outlines, rounder or oval shape and feels softer in consistency, compared to plemorphic adenoma, is that it can be found in both parotid glands at the same time.
Basal cell adenoma is another benign tumor that mostly arises from the parotid gland.
Oncocytoma, also mostly originating from the parotid gland. It is a benign tumor that can only be seen in other salivary glands and originates from a type of salivary gland cell called oncocyte.
In addition to the tumors we wrote above, it is a benign tumor that is more rarely seen such as canalicular adenoma, myoepithelioma, sialadenoma papillifer. Benign tumors such as um and vascular masses such as hemangioma, lymphangioma and salivary gland cysts can also be encountered as salivary gland masses.
Malignant Tumors
Mucoepidermoid carcinomais the most common cancer of the salivary glands. In general, there are 'high grade' types, which are faster and worse, and 'low grade' types, which are slower and relatively better. Patients are usually adults aged 40 and over, but it can also occur in younger people. The tumor may arise from large salivary glands, especially the parotid gland (salivary gland in front of the ear), or it may originate from microscopic salivary glands and appear in areas such as the nose, mouth, throat and larynx.
In Turkish, adenocystic carcinoma< adenoid cystic carcinoma, also called /strong>, is one of the most common malignant salivary gland tumors. A well-known feature of this tumor is that it penetrates the nerves and nerve fibers in the area where it is located and uses them as a way to spread. This tumor, which is more common in people of middle age and older age, may originate from the large salivary glands, or perhaps more commonly from microscopic salivary glands in areas such as the nose, mouth, throat and larynx.
Acinic cell carcinoma. is a malignant salivary gland tumor that is rarer and usually located in the parotid salivary gland. However, it is a 'low grade' tumor by nature and grows slowly. The possibility of metastasis (spreading to distant organs) is low. The prognosis of this tumor, which is seen at younger ages (20s and 30s), is better compared to other salivary gland cancers.
Malignant mixed tumor is a rarer type of malignant salivary gland tumors in this disease specific to older ages.
Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma is the name given to the benign salivary gland tumor called pleomorphic adenoma that is left untreated and turns into a malignant tumor over many years. Typically, the patient suddenly has a face and neck mass that has been present for years.
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