Salivary Gland Tumours Flashcards
What are the causes of changes in salivary gland size?
Secretion retention
-> Mucocele
-> Duct obstruction
Chronic sialadenitis- associated with mumps, bacterial infections, other pathology
Gland hyperplasia
-> Sialosis
-> Sjögren’s Syndrome
Salivary neoplasms
What are the features of sialosis?
Gland enlargement not caused by infection, inflammation or neoplasm
- Non-tender
- Often occurs in parotid- marked change in size and shape
- Associated with alcoholism, cirrhosis eating disorders, diabetes
How do major salivary gland tumours tend to present?
Localised swelling
Neurological change- swelling in parotid presses on facial nerve
-> Palsy, paraesthesia
What are the usual features of salivary gland tumours?
Painless
Slow growing
Well defined
Benign- 75%
-> malignant tumours are on increase
What is the prevalence of salivary gland tumours?
10 in every 100,000
Which factors may be involved in aetiology of salivary gland tumours?
Radiation
-> occupational
-> mobile phones
Viruses- EBV
Racial susceptibility
Distribution of Salivary Gland tumours:
Parotid- 80% of all tumours/15% malignant
Submandibular- 10% of all tumours/30% malignant
Sublingual- 0.5% of all tumours/80% malignant
Minor glands- 10% of all tumours/45% malignant
-> Smaller the major gland the smaller the incidence tumours- But more are malignant
What are the types of salivary gland tumours?
Epithelial Neoplasms
-> Benign (adenoma)- 11 types *
-> malignant (adenocarcinoma)- 20 types *
Non-epithelial
-> Saroma- fibrous tissue
-> Lymphoma
- subgroups also present
What are the clinical signs of major gland tumours?
Lump in gland
Asymmetry
Obstruction
Later
-> Pain
-> Facial palsy
What are the clinical signs of minor gland tumours?
Occurring in Junction of hard/soft palate, upper or cheek
-> Ulcerate late (suggestive of malignancy)
What techniques are used to investigate and diagnose salivary gland tumours
Fine needle aspirate
Core biopsy (done under LA- gets more tissue than FNA)
Incisional biopsy
What are the features/functions of a FNA?
- Can be done for any swelling underneath the skin
- Used for breast and salivary gland pathology
- Only gives small amount of tissue- can tell surgeon whether benign or malignant but may not help with definitive diagnosis
- Non-invasive
What are the issues when diagnosis salivary gland tumours?
Number of tumour types
Variation within a tumour because tissues originate from different stem cell lines so pathology may be complex
Common features between types
Not all tumours fit the classification
Immunohistochemistry may be needed to differentiate many of these tumours.
-> Molecular markers/next generation sequencing used in some cases (key genomic alterations)
What is meant by the term Adenocarcinoma NOS and when is it used?
Not otherwise specified
- If tumour cannot be placed into a category
What is meant by pleomorphic?
There are a variety of tissue appearances within the tumour
-> no 2 will be the same