What is a parotid gland tumor? How are parotid gland tumors treated?

Common diseases of the parotid gland include tumors, chronic or acute inflammation, and blockage of the glandular duct system. Some autoimmune diseases may also affect the parotid gland, such as Sjögren's syndrome. So how to treat parotid gland tumors?

Parotid gland tumor

Parotid gland tumor is one of the most common maxillofacial tumors. It has an insidious onset and no symptoms in the early stages. Many people accidentally touch it when washing their face or hair. By the time a tumor causes facial asymmetry, it is already quite large. Fortunately, 80% of parotid gland tumors are benign. Unfortunately, the facial nerve that controls facial expressions passes through the parotid gland after exiting the skull and then enters the facial muscles. Parotid gland tumors are often closely related to the facial nerve. How to preserve the facial nerve as much as possible during surgery and how to repair the nerve in time after it is removed are one of the key points of parotid tumor resection.

In fact, bilateral parotid gland tumors are very rare in the human population. The most common is bilateral parotid gland lymphoma, which is more common in elderly people who smoke all year round (it seems that this monkey is not young). If you feel a lump in this area, be careful and seek medical attention.

Treatment of parotid gland tumors

The main treatment for parotid gland tumors is surgery. This operation is not simple. The facial nerve that controls our expressions passes through the parotid gland, and parotid gland tumors happen to be located in this location (Figure 6). Improper handling can easily cause damage to the facial nerve, leading to irreversible facial paralysis, inability to close the eye on the operated side, and crooked corners of the mouth (Figure 7).

The key to surgical treatment of parotid gland tumors

The key to parotid gland surgery is to protect the facial nerve while completely removing the tumor. How to reduce the risk of facial nerve injury?

The facial nerve is very small and can be easily injured accidentally. Professional doctors are most familiar with the anatomy of the parotid gland and facial nerve, and with the help of microsurgical techniques, they can better identify and separate the branches of the facial nerve during surgery. The method of surgery is also important.

Even if the parotid tumor is very large, under the standard treatment of a specialist, the facial nerve function can generally be preserved and the face can be restored to normal shape.