Salivary gland neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential (SUMP) is a descriptive diagnosis used by pathologists when a tumor is found in a salivary gland but there is not enough information to determine whether it is benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). It does not refer to a single disease but rather to a range of possible …
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Striated duct adenoma is a rare, benign tumour that develops in the salivary glands, most often in the parotid gland, situated in front of and below the ears. The tumour is made up of small ducts (tiny tube-like structures) similar to those normally found in the salivary glands. These tumours are typically slow-growing and do …
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IgG4-related sialadenitis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the salivary glands, which produce saliva in your mouth. It is part of a group of IgG4-related diseases (IgG4-RD). In this condition, the immune system produces too much of an antibody called IgG4, leading to inflammation and swelling of the salivary glands. The inflammation can cause the …
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Basal cell adenocarcinoma is a rare type of cancer that starts in the salivary glands — the glands that make saliva. It is called “basal cell” because the tumor cells resemble the basal cells normally found at the base of salivary gland ducts. Most basal cell adenocarcinomas are low grade and grow slowly. They are …
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Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is a type of cancer that starts in the salivary glands — the glands that make saliva. It is uncommon overall, accounting for fewer than 1% of all salivary gland cancers. The name reflects the two cell types that make up the tumor: inner ductal cells (also called epithelial or luminal cells) …
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Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma is a type of salivary gland cancer that develops from within a previously benign (noncancerous) tumour called pleomorphic adenoma. In pathology, carcinoma is a general term used to describe a group of malignant (cancerous) tumours made up of epithelial cells, while “ex” means “out of” or “from”. Put together, carcinoma ex …
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Secretory carcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in the salivary glands — the glands that make saliva. It is one of the more recently described salivary gland cancers, and it has a few features that set it apart. First, it almost always carries the same specific change in its DNA — a fusion …
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A myoepithelioma is a non-cancerous type of salivary gland tumour. It is made up of specialized myoepithelial cells that are normally found in the salivary gland. This tumour should not be confused with the similarly named myoepithelioma that starts in soft tissue. Is myoepithelioma a type of cancer? No. Myoepithelioma is a benign (non-cancerous) type …
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Warthin tumor is a noncancerous tumor that almost always starts in the parotid gland — the largest salivary gland, which sits in front of and below each ear. It is the second most common salivary gland tumor, after pleomorphic adenoma. Warthin tumor is benign — it does not spread to other parts of the body …
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