Why immediate medical attention is required for parotid tumors

Many people have or will experience swollen salivary glands at some point in their lifetime.

However, a lump close to the ear that is around for longer that a couple weeks may be a parotid tumor and it is imperative that you seek medical attention from an experienced physician for diagnosis.

Generally, parotid tumors are benign, but can occasionally be cancerous, and all need to be removed by an expert parotid surgeon. Dr. Larian from the CENTER for Advanced Parotid & Facial Nerve Surgery is an expert parotid surgeon who specializes in the minimally invasive technique, keeping his patients’ best interest in mind.

The two main types of parotid tumors are benign and malignant. Most parotid tumor cases are benign, but there are about 20% of cases that come out as cancerous. The most common type of benign parotid tumor is a Pleomorphic Adenoma, also called a Benign Mixed Tumor. A pleomorphic adenoma may continue to grow if left untreated and not removed, has a very small chance of becoming cancerous.

Parotid tumors tend to grow near the facial nerve, so its removal should be handled by a parotid surgeon expert, such as Dr. Larian. Parotid tumors also sometimes grow around and engulf the facial nerve, making its removal more complicated. Damage or disturbance to the facial nerve during the tumor removal can cause facial paresis or paralysis to the patient. To ensure the safety of the patient, Dr. Larian does all parotid tumor removal surgeries with Dr. Azizzadeh, a facial nerve expert.

Although it is unknown what exactly causes a parotid tumor to develop, there are a number of risk factors that can increase the likelihood one may develop. These factors include:

Age: Those over the age of 55 years have a higher chance of developing a parotid tumor and are at an increased risk of having the tumor become malignant.

Radiation Exposure: Studies show that people with increased radiation exposure have a higher risk of developing a parotid tumor and cancer in the salivary gland. Cell phones are a source of frequent radiation exposure near the salivary glands, although a definitive link has not been found yet.

Exposure to Certain Chemicals: Increased exposure to certain chemicals, such as asbestos and silica dust in the workplace increase the risk of a parotid tumor developing and cancer in the salivary gland.

Dr. Larian from the CENTER for Advanced Parotid & Facial Nerve Surgery has pioneered a cutting-edge surgery technique, called a micro-parotidectomy or minimally invasive parotidectomy. This type of procedure minimizes visible scarring as it is performed using a small, well-hidden incision. Dr. Larian also teams up with Dr. Azizzadeh, a facial nerve expert, in order to prevent facial paralysis during the surgery and provide the best possible patient care and results.