Salivary Glands

Salivary glands are located in and around the throat. The major salivary glands are called parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands. All of these paired glands secrete saliva into the mouth.
The parotid gland starts in front of the ear and continues along the cheek. Its duct opens near the upper teeth. Its best-known disease is mumps.
The submandibular gland is located under the chin and releases its secretion to the front part of the sublingual area. .
Sublingual is located under the tongue, that is, at the floor of the mouth, and gives its secretion there through ducts.
In addition to these glands, there are small glands located on the lips, lower jaw area (cheek mucosa) and commonly in other parts of the mouth and throat. minor) There are hundreds of glands called salivary glands. Saliva; It moisturizes the mouth, helps digestion and prevents tooth decay.
Salivary gland diseases:
Obstruction
Obstruction of the salivary flow occurs mostly in the parotid and submandibular glands, usually due to stone formation. Symptoms typically  occur during meals. Saliva production begins, but as the saliva cannot come out of the ducts, it causes swelling of the gland, pain and sometimes infection.
Inflammation(Infection)
If the stones are not completely obstructive, the large glands will swell during the meal and will gradually swell after the meal until the next meal. They will land as. The infection often develops in abnormally pooled saliva, causing more severe pain and swelling in the glands. If left untreated for long enough, abscesses may develop in the glands. In some people, the ducts of the major salivary glands may be abnormal. These ducts can lead to infection and blockage. The most common salivary gland inflammation is parotid mumps. Although it is most common in children, it can also occur in adults. However, if an adult has unilateral parotid swelling, this is more likely due to an obstruction or tumor. Salivary gland infections may also occur from neighboring lymph nodes.
Tumors
Benign and malignant tumors of the salivary glands usually occur with painless swelling of these glands. Tumors rarely involve more than one gland and include the parotid, submandibular region. e, they are noticed as a growth on the palate, floor of the mouth, cheeks and lips. These growths should be evaluated by an ENT & Head and Neck Surgery specialist. Malignant tumors of the major salivary glands can grow rapidly, are painful, and can cause loss of movement of all or part of the affected side of the face. Salivary gland enlargements can also be seen in autoimmune diseases that cause significant inflammation. Patients often have a dry mouth and dry eyes. Diabetes can especially lead to parotid gland enlargement. Particularly bilateral salivary gland enlargement is also seen in alcoholics. Diagnosis: Diagnosis of salivary gland diseases is based on a careful history, physical examination and laboratory tests. If an obstruction of the major salivary glands is suspected, it may be necessary to anesthetize the mouth of the salivary ducts and widen the duct with an instrument to help pass the stone causing the obstruction. Before the use of such tools, dental x-rays can show the location of calcified stones. If a mass is found in the salivary gland, a radiological examination called Computed Tomography (CT) is useful. CT will show whether the mass is part of the salivary gland or a lymph node. Fine needle aspiration is helpful in most cases. The accuracy of this test is approximately 80% to 90%. In cases of necessity, diagnosis can be made by removing a piece of the salivary gland after a skin incision.
Treatment: This includes drug therapy and surgical interventions. The choice of treatment depends on the nature of the problem. If it is due to systemic diseases (diseases that concern the whole body, not an isolated area), the underlying cause should be treated. Antibiotics are used if the disease process is associated with salivary gland obstruction and related infection. Sometimes, instrumental intervention in the ducts may be necessary.
If a mass develops in the salivary gland, this mass may need to be removed. Most masses in the parotid gland area are benign. When surgery is required, great care must be taken to avoid damaging the facial nerve passing through the gland. ENT & Head and Neck surgery specialist, who knows the anatomy of this region well and works by revealing the nerve under the microscope, determines the facial nerve. will ensure its protection to a great extent. Radiotherapy is often recommended after surgery for malignant tumors.
The same general principles apply to the small salivary glands under the jaw, sublingually and in the upper part of the throat. While benign diseases are best treated with surgery alone, malignant diseases require surgery and postoperative radiation therapy. If the mass adjacent to a salivary gland is a lymph node that grows due to cancer originating from another side, naturally another treatment plan will be required. Such a treatment can best be organized by an ENT & Head and Neck surgery specialist.
In summary, salivary gland diseases are due to many reasons. These diseases can be treated both with medication and surgery. Such a treatment must be performed by an ENT & Head and Neck surgery specialist who is experienced in this field.

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