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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staff
Diagnosing salivary gland cancer
Tests and procedures used to diagnose salivary gland cancer include:
- A physical exam. Your doctor will feel your jaw, neck and throat for lumps or swelling. Your doctor will also examine the inside of your mouth using a small mirror and lights.
- Imaging tests. Imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT), may help your doctor determine the size and location of your salivary gland cancer.
- Collecting a sample of tissue for testing. In certain cases, doctors may recommend collecting a sample of tissue (biopsy) for laboratory testing. During an aspiration biopsy, the doctor inserts a needle into the suspicious area and draws out fluid or cells. A pre-surgery biopsy isn't used in most cases. Instead, the tumor is tested for cancer cells after it's surgically removed.
Determining the extent of salivary gland cancer
After your cancer is diagnosed, your doctor will determine the extent, or stage, of your cancer. Your cancer's stage determines your treatment options and gives your doctor an idea of your prognosis. Cancer stages are identified by Roman numerals, with stage I indicating a small, localized tumor and stage IV indicating an advanced cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck or to distant parts of the body.
- Salivary gland cancer. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_7x_CRC_Salivary_Gland_Cancer_PDF.asp. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
- Salivary gland cancer. Cancer.Net. http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Salivary+Gland+Cancer. Accessed Jan. 29, 2010.
- Salivary gland cancer treatment (PDQ): Health professional version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/salivarygland/healthprofessional/allpages/print. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
- Simental A, et al. Malignant neoplasms of the salivary glands. In: Cummings CW, et al. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/182968964-2/0/1263/0.html. Accessed Jan. 28, 2010.
- Quon H. Cancer of the head and neck. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:1177.
- Head and neck cancer: Questions and answers. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/sites-types/head-and-neck. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
- Head and neck cancers. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/head-and-neck.pdf. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
- Jeannon JP, et al. Management of advanced parotid cancer: A systematic review. European Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2009;35:908.
- Dry mouth or xerostomia. Cancer.Net. http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Treating+Cancer/Managing+Side+Effects/Dry+Mouth+or+Xerostomia. Accessed Feb. 10, 2010.
- Cancer-related fatigue. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/fatigue.pdf. Accessed Feb. 10, 2010.
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