The salivary gland is one of three pairs of glands that secrete saliva. Saliva helps the body break down food for digestion. Salivary gland tumors are growths in the tissues of these glands.

What is going on in the body?

There are three pairs of major salivary glands. The first and largest pair is the parotid glands. They sit in front of and just below the ear. The second largest pair is the submandibular glands. These sit under the side of the jaw. The sublingual glands sit under the tongue in the floor of the mouth. Scattered below the lining of the mouth and throat are minor salivary glands. Each of the glands secretes saliva into the mouth through ducts.

Salivary gland tumors can arise from the cells in the glands, the ducts, or the supporting structures not involved in saliva secretion. These growths can be cancerous or noncancerous. Approximately 80% of salivary gland tumors occur in the parotid gland.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

The cause of salivary gland tumors is unknown.

Symptoms & Signs

What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?

Most of salivary gland tumors are harmless. Usually they are slow growing, non-tender, painless bumps. They are often single masses with distinct edges.

But sometimes the tumors are cancerous. In these cases, the masses do not have distinct edges and appear to be stuck to surrounding tissues. Often they affect nearby nerves, causing a loss of feeling or function of the face or tongue. The tumors may grow quickly, feel lumpy, and cause pain.

Tumors arising from minor salivary glands usually present as painless, slow-growing swellings below the lining of the cheek or hard and soft palate.

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