At I D Cancer Center, Lucknow, we offer advanced diagnostic tools, minimally invasive treatments, precision radiotherapy, and personalized care.

What Are Salivary Gland Tumours?

• Benign (non-cancerous): e.g., Pleomorphic adenoma, Warthin tumour

• Malignant (cancerous): e.g., Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, Adenoid cystic carcinoma, Acinic cell carcinoma

Malignant tumours require timely treatment to prevent local or distant spread.

Types of Salivary Gland Tumours

Benign Tumours

• Pleomorphic adenoma

• Warthin tumour

• Basal cell adenoma

Malignant Tumours

• Mucoepidermoid carcinoma

• Adenoid cystic carcinoma

• Acinic cell carcinoma

• Salivary duct carcinoma

• Adenocarcinoma

• Squamous cell carcinoma (rare)

Risk Factors

Although exact causes are unknown, certain factors increase risk:

• Previous radiation exposure

• Viral infections (e.g., HPV, EBV)

• Family history

• Occupational exposure (rubber, asbestos, metal industries)

• Older age

• Smoking (especially for Warthin tumour)

Common Symptoms

Salivary gland tumours often appear as a painless lump, but certain symptoms require immediate attention:

• Swelling or lump near jaw/neck/ear

• Pain in the face or neck

• Numbness or facial muscle weakness

• Difficulty swallowing

• Persistent mouth ulcers

• Fluid discharge from the ear (rare)

• Slow or fast-growing mass

Any persistent swelling in the salivary glands should be evaluated by a specialist.

How Salivary Gland Tumours Are Diagnosed

At I D Cancer Center, diagnosis follows international protocols to ensure accuracy.

Diagnostic Tests

• Clinical examination

• Ultrasound neck

• MRI or CT scan (detailed gland mapping)

• FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology)

• Core needle biopsy (for select cases)

• PET-CT (for advanced or metastatic disease)

High-precision imaging allows accurate staging and treatment planning.

Treatment Options at I D Cancer Center

Treatment depends on tumour type, size, location, and whether it is benign or malignant. We use a multidisciplinary approach involving surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and reconstructive specialists.

1. Surgery (Primary Treatment)

Surgery is the mainstay for most salivary gland tumours.

Procedures include:

• Superficial parotidectomy

• Total parotidectomy

• Submandibular gland excision

• Minor salivary gland tumour excision

• Neck dissection (for malignant disease)

Our goal is complete tumour removal while preserving facial nerve function.

2. Radiotherapy

Advanced radiotherapy is recommended for malignant tumours, especially:

• Adenoid cystic carcinoma

• High-grade cancers

• Close or positive surgical margins

• Perineural invasion

• Nodal disease

Technologies offered at I D Cancer Center:

• IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy)

• VMAT / Arc Therapy

• IGRT (Image-Guided Radiotherapy)

• SRS/SRT for select skull-base tumours

Benefits:

• Precision targeting

• Maximum tumour control

• Minimal side effects

3. Chemotherapy

Used in:

• Advanced or metastatic disease

• High-grade aggressive tumours

• Recurrent disease

• Combined with radiation for selected cases

Common regimens include platinum-based combinations and targeted agents.

4. Targeted Therapy & Immunotherapy

Select tumours (e.g., HER2-positive, NTRK fusion, androgen-receptor–positive cancers) may respond to:

• Targeted inhibitors

• Immunotherapy (Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab)

These treatments are individualized based on tumour biology.

Prognosis

• Benign tumours have excellent outcomes after surgery.

• Many malignant salivary gland cancers grow slowly and respond well to combined therapy.

• Early diagnosis improves both survival and facial nerve preservation outcomes.