What is parotid tumors?

It is a generally benign oncological pathology that affects the salivary glands, in this case, the parotid glands, which are located on the cheeks, in front of the ears, one on each side; surrounding the facial nerve which is responsible for moving the muscles of the face.

Parotid tumors are rare and usually manifest mainly due to the following:

• Stones in the salivary ducts.
• Cirrhosis.
• Abdominal surgery.
• Dehydration.
• General and salivary gland infections.
• Other types of cancer.
• Sarcoidosis.
• Sjogren’s syndrome.

• Swollen face.
• Swallowing difficulties.
• Pain or discomfort.
• Swollen jaw.
• Facial nerve paralysis.

The main risk of parotid tumors is that they become cancerous and spread to other organs. The second complication is that the facial nerve is damaged during surgery to remove the tumors.

The doctor will analyze your symptoms and medical history, perform a physical examination, and request various tests, including:

• Ultrasound.
• Tissue biopsy.
• X-ray of the salivary glands.
• MRI.
• Computed tomography.

The treatment will be established based on the size of the tumors, severity, and your general health, but usually includes surgery to remove the tumor, either by removing part or all of the parotid gland.

If the tumor is cancerous, you will need:

• Chemotherapy.
• Radiation therapy.

As surgery to remove parotid tumors is complex, the presence of a multidisciplinary medical group will help achieve better results.

Since its inauguration in 2009, our Cancer Center has offered chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments at the level of the best medical centers in the world through a comprehensive care model for cancer patients.

ABC Cancer Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory