Salivary Gland Pathology

Question 1

What would hint at a malignant salivary gland pathology?

Answer 1

young and painful

Question 2

What is sialolithiasis?

Answer 2

salivary gland stones

Question 3

What is a common infection of the salivary glands?

Answer 3

paramyxovirus - risk of secondary meningitis

Question 4

What is the most common site for tumours?

Answer 4

parotid

tumours in smaller glands are more likely to be malignant

Question 5

What is the most common salivary gland tumour?

Answer 5

pleomorphic adenoma

Question 6

Describe a pleomorphic adenoma?

Answer 6

slow growing
indolent tumours
in parotid gland

Question 7

What populations are affected by pleomorphic adenomas?

Answer 7

females

4-6th decade

Question 8

Can pleomorphic adenomas become malignant?

Answer 8

yes if longstanding

Question 9

What is the treatment for pleomorphic adenomas?

Answer 9

tricky to excise but can reocurr

Question 10

What is a Warthins tumour?

Answer 10

bilateral and multicentric tumour

rare outwith the parotid

Question 11

What are the risk factors of Warthins tumours?

Answer 11

males >50

smoking

Question 12

What is the most common worldwide malignant salivary gland tumours?

Answer 12

mucoepidermoid carcinoma

Question 13

What is the most common UK malignant salivary gland tumours?

Answer 13

adenoid cystic carcinoma

Question 14

Describe a mucoepidermoid carcinoma?

Answer 14

majority in the parotid gland
wide age range
can be classified into low risk (>90% 5 year survival)
or high risk (<60% 5 year survival)

Question 15

Describe an adenoid cystic carcinoma?

Answer 15

most common malignant tumour of the palate
35% 5 year survival
frequent perinural invasion

Question 16

What is a common symptom of adenoid cystic carcinoma?

Answer 16

pain

loss of function

Question 17

What populations are most commonly affected by adenoid cystic carcinoma?

Answer 17

over 40years

Question 18

How are parotid tumours viewed?

Answer 18

CT scan

Question 19

What is the gold standard investigation for salivary gland tumours?

Answer 19

Ultrasound - can do FNA guided biopsy

shows the type and lobulation

Question 20

What is the order from first, to last investigations are done for salivary gland tumours?

Answer 20

USS -> FNA -> CT -> MRI -> PET

Question 21

How do salivary gland tumours present?

Answer 21

facial weakness

difficulty swallowing

Question 22

What is a non epithelial salivary gland tumour?

Answer 22

lymphoma

Question 23

What are red flags for salivary gland tumours?

Answer 23

solid nodule
irregular or microlobulated margins
internal vascularity
interval increase in size
micro calcification
marked hypoechogenicity
metastatic lymphadenopathy