Salivary Gland Tumors

How is the condition diagnosed?

Initial diagnosis is based on physical examination and the location of the mass within or arising from the salivary glands.

A fine needle aspiration biopsy is usually performed. With this procedure, a fine needle is used to remove cells from the growth for examination. It can then be determined whether or not the mass is cancerous and how it can be treated. The larger the gland is where the growth appears, the more likely it is not cancer-related.

If the mass is cancerous, a CT scan of the neck and face is usually performed. This will help discover the extent of the tumor and whether it has spread.