Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging of Salivary Gland Cancer

Learn about the signs and symptoms of salivary gland cancer. Find out how it is tested for, diagnosed, and staged.

Can salivary gland cancer be found early?

Screening is testing for cancer in people who don't have any symptoms. Since salivary gland cancer is not common, doctors usually do not screen for it.

In many cases, because of its location, salivary gland cancer symptoms can be found early on. Often patients, their dentists, or their doctors notice a lump in one of the salivary glands, usually on the sides of the face or in the mouth.

Knowing possible signs and symptoms of salivary gland cancers and seeking medical care if they occur might help find these cancers early, when treatment is likely to be most successful.

If you’re at high risk

While there is no screening test recommended for people at average risk, people who might be at higher risk of developing salivary gland cancer because they have had radiation to the head and neck area might be watched more closely for symptoms.

What are the signs and symptoms of salivary gland cancer?

The symptoms of salivary gland cancer depend on the location of the tumor.

Tumors of the major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual) often present with a lump or swelling. About 1 in 10 salivary gland tumors cause pain. Tumors in the minor salivary glands might cause a mass or an ulcer.

Some salivary gland cancers can injure or irritate the nerves that move the muscles that open and close our eyes and mouth and work to create expressions, like smiling and frowning. If the nerve is involved, a person might experience facial numbness, pain, or paralysis (loss of the ability to move part of the face).

How is salivary gland cancer diagnosed?

Diagnosing salivary gland cancer often involves physical exams, imaging tests, and a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. If a salivary gland cancer diagnosis is confirmed, more detailed tests will be done to learn about what type of cancer it is and how best to treat it.

Staging and survival rates for salivary gland cancer

After a salivary gland cancer diagnosis, many people want to understand what to expect. The stage of a cancer describes how much cancer is in the body. It helps determine how serious the cancer is and how best to treat it.

Survival rates are a way to measure how many people survive a certain type of cancer over time. Survival rates are often reported as 5-year relative survival rates, which compares the survival of people with the same type and stage of salivary gland cancer to people in the overall population.