What is a parotid tumour?
A parotid tumour describes an abnormal growth of cells in the parotid gland, one of the main salivary glands. Most of these tumours are benign in nature.
Parotid Tumour in first person
Parotid tumors are rare, and most of them are benign.
Parotid tumours can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Most parotid tumours are benign, with the most common being pleomorphic adenomas and Warthin's tumour which are non-invasive and rarely spread to other parts of the body.
However, malignant tumours can form in the parotid gland with different degrees of aggressiveness, such as squamous cell carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma or mucoepidermoid carcinoma.
Anatomy of the parotid gland
The parotid glands are the largest salivary glands in the human body. They are located one on each side of the face, in the area in front of and below the ears. Each parotid gland is traversed by the facial nerve, which is responsible for facial muscle movements and facial expression. The facial nerve, as it passes through the gland, divides it anatomically into two parts: the superficial lobe and the deep lobe. In addition to the parotid glands, the submandibular and sublingual glands also contribute to the production of saliva.
How many people are affected by parotid tumours?
Parotid tumours are relatively rare compared to other types of tumours or cancers and their prevalence can vary by population and geographic location.
80-85% of parotid tumours are benign and affect the middle-aged, mostly female, population. However, malignant parotid tumours can affect people of different ages and sex.
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Published: 9 May 2024
Updated: 9 May 2024
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