What Are Parotid Tumors?

The parotid gland is located in the front and lower part of the external auditory canal. The parotid gland tissue is rich in fat, which is obviously compared with the surrounding tissue. Multiple types of tumors can occur in the parotid gland. The majority of benign tumors are pleomorphic adenomas, and the majority of malignant tumors are mucous epidermal cancer. Tumors of the parotid gland are more common in the maxillofacial region. Most of the parotid glands and gland ducts are concentrated in the superficial lobes, so tumors are more common in the superficial lobes. At present, CT can not only find tumors, but also provide scientific basis for preoperative evaluation and prognosis. It has become the main inspection method for parotid tumors. The disease is mainly treated by surgery.

Basic Information

English name

parotid tumor

Visiting department

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Common causes

May be related to radiation, virus infection, etc.

Common symptoms

Painless mass with soft texture and clear borders

Clinical manifestations of parotid tumor

Malignant tumors of the parotid gland mainly include mucoepidermoid carcinoma, acinar cell carcinoma, mixed malignant tumor, adenoid cystadenocarcinoma, metastatic cancer, etc., all grow rapidly, the mass of the tumor is irregular, hard, inactive, unclear border, painful mass Even skin ulceration, invasion of surrounding muscles, blood vessels, and nerves can cause facial numbness, pain, restricted mouth opening, hearing loss, and difficulty swallowing. Except for benign tumors, there may be no special manifestations.

Parotid tumor examination

Imaging examination

B-ultrasound, CT, iodine contrast, nuclide scan, etc.

CT examination of malignant tumors shows irregular soft tissue mass shadows, uneven mass density, prone to necrosis, cystic degeneration, hemorrhage, invasive growth, blurred edges, easy to invade internal and external wing muscles, parapharyngeal space, forward Invasion of the mandible, invasion of the neck blood vessels and neural tubes, often causes metastasis of the ipsilateral neck lymph nodes.

2. Pathological examination

Tumor types often require pathological examination to determine.

Diagnosis of parotid tumor

Diagnosis based on clinical manifestations and related examinations.

Parotid tumor treatment

The main treatment method is surgery. The choice of surgical method is generally based on the location and nature of the tumor. The treatment options for benign and malignant tumors are quite different. The prognosis is directly related to the choice of treatment. For example, during the operation of the parotid gland tumor, the tumor can be separated next to the facial nerve. When there are no signs of facial paralysis in the clinic, it can be separated and stored. Postoperative radiation therapy.