Ways To Treat Salivary Gland Cancer

Parotidectomy

A parotidectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove the parotid gland, which is the largest of the salivary glands and most common location of salivary gland cancer. There are three main techniques used for this type of surgery. A superficial or lateral method removes the parts of the gland near the surface or beside the facial nerve. A partial superficial method removes the part of the gland surrounding the tumor along with some facial nerves.

The formal superficial technique removes nerves around the temple, face, and neck. A total parotidectomy removes all of the deep parts of the parotid gland. A less invasive version called the transcervical approach avoids the facial nerve by using a small incision in the neck. The most radical technique is performed when the tumor is encroaching on the facial nerve. This procedure excises both the parotid gland and the facial nerve.

Neck Dissection

A neck dissection involves a thorough examination of the neck for tumors and surgical removal of potentially cancerous lymph nodes. This procedure is performed if there’s evidence the salivary gland cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck. The spread of cancer to this area reduces survival. The cancer can spread to this region from many of the areas where the salivary glands are located. A neck dissection may cause side effects because of injury to the nerves in the area, including numbness of the ear, weakness of the lower lip, and weakness when lifting an arm over the head. The weakness of the arm and lip may improve after a few months, but will last a lifetime if a nerve is removed as part of the procedure.