Salivary Gland TumorsSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Salivary Gland Tumors
Salivary gland tumors are abnormal cells growing in the gland or in the tubes (ducts) that drain the salivary glands.
Tumor - salivary duct
Common conditions include: Acinic Cell Carcinoma of Salivary Glands
The salivary glands are located around the mouth. They produce saliva, which moistens food to help with chewing and swallowing. Saliva also helps to protect teeth from decay.
There are 3 main pairs of salivary glands. The parotid glands are the largest. They are located in each cheek in front of the ears. Two submandibular glands are under the floor of the mouth on both sides of the back of the jaw. Two sublingual glands are under the floor of the mouth next to the jaw on each side. There are also hundreds of small salivary glands lining the rest of the mouth. These are called the minor salivary glands.
Salivary glands empty saliva into the mouth through ducts that open at various places in the mouth.
Salivary gland tumors are rare. Swelling of the salivary glands is mostly due to:
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Other cancers
- Salivary duct stones
- Salivary gland infections
- Dehydration
- Sarcoidosis
- Sjögren syndrome
The most common type of salivary gland tumor is a slow-growing noncancerous (benign) tumor of the parotid gland. The tumor gradually increases the size of the gland. Some of these tumors can be cancerous (malignant).
Symptoms may include any of the following:
- Firm, usually painless swelling in one of the salivary glands (in front of the ears, under the chin, or on the floor of the mouth). The swelling gradually increases.
- Difficulty moving one side of the face, known as facial nerve palsy.
Surgery is most often done to remove the affected salivary gland. If the tumor is benign, no other treatment is needed.
Radiation therapy or extensive surgery may be needed if the tumor is cancerous. Chemotherapy may be used when the disease has spread beyond the salivary glands.
Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
Head and neck surgeon David Eisele specializes in surgery for malignant and benign tumors of the head and neck, with a focus on salivary gland neoplasms and disorders of the salivary glands that can be treated surgically. He is an expert in minimally invasive surgical approaches, including sialendoscopy. Salivary gland neoplasms and disorders are also the focus of Dr. Eisele’s research. He has published more than 300 research papers and edited multiple books related to head and neck surgery. Dr. Eisele earned a medical degree from Cornell University Medical College and completed residency training in general surgery and in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at the University of Washington. From 2012 to 2025, he served as director of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Eisele is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Salivary Gland Tumors. He is also highly rated in 15 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Salivary Duct Stones, Salivary Gland Tumors, Throat Cancer, Laryngectomy, and Gastrostomy. Dr. Eisele is board certified in Head And Neck Surgery.
Ear Nose & Throat Specialty Care, PLLC
Christopher Britt is an Otolaryngologist practicing medicine in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Britt is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Salivary Gland Tumors. He is also highly rated in 26 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Salivary Gland Tumors, Throat Cancer, Laryngeal Cancer, Laryngectomy, and Thyroidectomy. Dr. Britt is board certified in Otolaryngology - Head And Neck Surgery- American Board Of Otolaryngology - Head And Neck Surgery.
Head And Neck Surgery Cancer Program
Dr. Patrick Ha is chief of the UCSF Division of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology. His expertise in patient care covers the full scope of head and neck surgery, with a focus on thyroid and parathyroid surgery as well as endoscopic approaches to throat cancer surgery. Ha's research is currently focused on molecular changes that occur in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland. Ha received an undergraduate degree in biology from Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude. He obtained his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, graduating with membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He then completed his residency training and a postdoctoral fellowship at the otolaryngology department of Johns Hopkins, along with advanced fellowship training in head and neck oncologic surgery. Ha serves on the editorial board of several medical journals, including Oral Oncology. He is the Irwin Mark Jacobs and Joan Klein Jacobs Distinguished Professor in Head and Neck Cancer. Dr. Ha is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Salivary Gland Tumors. He is also highly rated in 20 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, Salivary Gland Tumors, Tongue Cancer, Gastrostomy, and Laryngectomy. Dr. Ha is board certified in American Board Of Otolaryngology, Otolaryngology. Dr. Ha is currently accepting new patients.
Most salivary gland tumors are noncancerous and slow growing. Removing the tumor with surgery often cures the condition. In rare cases, the tumor is cancerous and further treatment is needed.
Complications from the cancer or its treatment may include:
- Spread of the cancer to other organs (metastasis).
- In rare cases, injury during surgery to the nerve that controls movement of the face.
Contact your provider if you have any of the following:
- Pain when eating or chewing
- You notice a lump in the mouth, under the jaw, or in the neck that does not go away in 2 to 3 weeks or is getting larger
Summary: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of zanidatamab for the treatment of participants with previously treated solid tumors that have Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) Immunohistochemistry (IHC) 3+ overexpression.
Summary: The purpose of this study The purpose of this study is to find out if it is safe to perform surgery on the parotid gland (the large salivary gland in front of the ear) without using a wound drain. A wound drain is a small plastic tube used to remove excess fluid from the surgical site after the operation. Currently, using a drain is the standard practice in Sweden, which often means patients must ...
Published Date: October 21, 2025
Published By: Warren Brenner, MD, Oncologist, Lynn Cancer Institute, Boca Raton, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Alamoudi UA, Al Afif A. Benign neoplasms of the salivary glands. In: Francis HW, Haughey BH, Hillel AT, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 85.
Jackson NM, Mitchell JL, Walvekar RR. Inflammatory disorders of the salivary glands. In: Francis HW, Haughey BH, Hillel AT, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 84.
National Cancer Institute website. Salivary gland cancer treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/hp/adult/salivary-gland-treatment-pdq. Updated May 13, 2025. Accessed December 1, 2025.
Sirjani DB, Lewis JS, Beadle BM, Sunwoo JB, Finegersh A. Malignant neoplasms of the salivary glands. In: Francis HW, Haughey BH, Hillel AT, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 86.