Salivary Gland Cancer

The salivary glands produce saliva in the mouth, throat and nose. Saliva helps with digestion, protects teeth and helps stop infections that could enter the body through the mouth and nose.

Salivary gland tumors form when a cell in a salivary gland mutates and starts rapidly growing and dividing. Most salivary gland tumors are benign, meaning they are not cancer and do not spread to other parts of the body.

Some are malignant, or cancer. These tumors can spread beyond their original location to nearby tissue, lymph nodes and distant parts of the body.

Salivary gland cancer is rare. Only around 2,000 to 2,500 cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. The disease’s five-year survival rate is 76%. The survival rate changes for different subtypes of salivary gland cancer, though.

Salivary gland anatomy

Each person has hundreds of salivary glands. There are two types of salivary glands: the major salivary glands and the minor salivary glands. Most saliva is produced from the three pairs of major salivary glands. Most salivary gland tumors occur in the major glands.

The major salivary glands are:

• The parotid glands. These are the largest pair of salivary glands. Most salivary gland tumors form in these glands. The parotid glands are located just in front of each ear. The facial nerve, which is responsible for facial movement, runs through each parotid gland and divides it into two lobes:
  • The superficial lobe: Most parotid tumors start in the superficial lobe.
  • The deep lobe: Some tumors start in the deep lobe. Tumors that start in the superficial lobe can also spread to the deep lobe.
• The submandibular glands. They are the size of a walnut and located below the jaw. They can often be felt below the jaw on each side of the face.
• The sublingual glands. These are the smallest of the major salivary glands. They are about the size of almonds. They are located below the tongue in the floor of the mouth.

The minor salivary glands consist of hundreds of much smaller glands that line the mouth, throat, and sinuses. They are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Minor salivary gland tumors are rare, but they are more likely to be cancerous than major salivary gland tumors. Many minor salivary gland cancers start in the roof of the mouth.

Types of salivary gland tumors

Most salivary gland tumors are benign, or not cancer. Benign tumors do not spread. However, they often need treatment because they can become quite large, and a small number of them can develop into cancer.

There are more than 20 types of malignant, or cancerous, salivary gland tumors. Different types can require different treatment plans. The most common types include:

• Mucoepidermal carcinoma, the most common type of salivary gland cancer. These tumors can be categorized as low-grade, intermediate grade and high-grade. Tumors with lower grades are usually less aggressive than those with higher grades.
• Adenoid cystic carcinoma, the most common tumor of the minor salivary glands and second most common of the major salivary glands. This tumor tends to grow along nerves, particularly the facial and trigeminal nerves.
• Acinic cell carcinoma, a common salivary gland cancer that has a tendency to recur at its original location.

Salivary gland cancer risk factors

Risk factors increase your chances of developing a particular disease. Risk factors for salivary gland cancer include:

• Age: Most cases of salivary gland cancer are diagnosed in people aged 55 or older.
• Prior radiation to the head and neck: Patients who received radiation treatment to the head and neck for another cancer have a higher risk of developing salivary gland cancer. Fortunately, the benefits of radiation therapy far outweigh this risk.
• Smoking: Smoking is a risk factor for some benign salivary gland tumors. Doctors are studying its connection to salivary gland cancer.
• Chemical exposure: Exposure to chemicals in certain industries increases the risk of some rare subtypes of salivary gland cancer. These industries include plumbing, carpentry and manufacturing rubber products.
• HPV infection: Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause several different cancers, such as throat cancer and cervical cancer. There is some limited evidence that HPV may be a risk factor for salivary gland cancer. Doctors are studying this link. Learn more about HPV.
  

Why choose MD Anderson for your salivary gland cancer care?

Choosing where to go for cancer treatment is one of the most important decisions a patient can make. 

Every patient with salivary gland cancer is different. Treatment plans can change drastically based on the cancer’s subtype, as well as the tumor’s exact location. Just a few millimeters can make a huge difference. The right treatment plan can greatly reduce the chance that the cancer returns and help maintain your quality of life, including your ability to speak, swallow and hear.

At MD Anderson you’ll get care from a team of salivary gland cancer experts. As a top-ranked cancer center, our doctors see more salivary gland cancer patients in a year than most treat in a career. They have experience treating this rare cancer and understand how to deliver care in anatomically complex areas like the head and neck. They use this expertise to design treatment plans that are tailored to each individual patient.

This team will include a surgical oncologist, radiation oncologist and medical oncologist. All specialize in treating salivary gland cancer, giving them an incredible amount of expertise to call upon when planning your care. They will work together closely to discuss your case and develop a treatment plan designed for you. 

Treatments can include many cutting-edge approaches, such as proton therapy and advanced robotic surgery. As a leading cancer center, MD Anderson is also developing new salivary gland cancer treatments, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies. 

Caring for salivary gland cancer patients at MD Anderson goes far beyond just eliminating the cancer. It includes maximizing your quality of life during and after treatment. Salivary gland cancer and its care may affect eating, hearing, speaking and appearance. At MD Anderson you’ll be offered a full range of treatments and supportive therapies to help you overcome these challenges. 

You may get occupational, physical and speech therapy. If needed, you’ll have access to MD Anderson’s renowned reconstructive surgeons, as well as expert dental surgeons who can design and place custom-made dental implants. You can also work closely with speech pathologists and audiologists who have expertise in restoring speech and swallowing after salivary gland surgery.

MD Anderson also offers dedicated survivorship care for salivary gland cancer patients. This care can help monitor for the disease’s return and offer interventions to maximize your quality of life.

And at MD Anderson you will be surrounded by the strength of one of the nation's largest and most experienced cancer centers. From support groups to counseling to integrative medicine care, we have all the services needed to treat not just the disease, but the whole person.