parotid gland

Striated duct adenoma

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

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 of the salivary glands

Basal cell adenocarcinoma is a rare type of salivary gland cancer. Compared to other types of salivary gland cancer, it is slow-growing and has less chance of spreading to lymph nodes or other body parts. However, it can still grow and invade nearby tissues, so early diagnosis and treatment are important. Most basal cell adenocarcinomas …
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Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is a type of salivary gland cancer. The tumour is described as a biphasic salivary gland neoplasm because it comprises two populations of cells: ductal (luminal) and myoepithelial (abluminal) cells. The most common location for epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma is the parotid gland. However, the tumour can be found in any salivary glands, including …
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Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma

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 of the salivary glands

This article is designed to help you understand your pathology report for secretory carcinoma of the head and neck. Each section explains a specific aspect of the diagnosis and what it means for you. What is secretory carcinoma? Secretory carcinoma is a relatively uncommon type of salivary gland cancer. It is characterized by a genetic …
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Myoepithelioma of the salivary glands

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 tumour

A Warthin tumour is a common type of non-cancerous salivary gland tumour. Most are found in the parotid gland, an organ in the neck just before the ear. What causes a Warthin tumour? Warthin tumours are strongly associated with a history of cigarette smoking. For patients without a history of smoking, the cause remains unclear. …
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