Journal Article

Salivary Gland Disorders

Ward, P. Daniel, MD, MS, Wilson, Kevin F., MD, Meier, Jeremy D., MD

2014

Overview

Salivary gland disorders include inflammatory, bacterial, viral, and neoplastic etiologies. The presentation can be acute, recurrent, or chronic. Acute suppurative sialadenitis presents as rapid-onset pain and swelling and is treated with antibiotics, salivary massage, hydration, and sialagogues such as lemon drops or vitamin C lozenges. Viral etiologies include mumps and human immunodeficiency virus, and treatment is directed at the underlying disease. Recurrent or chronic sialadenitis is more likely to be inflammatory than infectious; examples include recurrent parotitis of childhood and sialolithiasis. Inflammation is commonly caused by an obstruction such as a stone or duct stricture. Management is directed at relieving the obstruction. Benign and malignant tumors can occur in the salivary glands and usually present as a painless solitary neck mass. Diagnosis is made by imaging (e.g., ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) and biopsy (initially with fine-needle aspiration). Overall, most salivary gland tumors are benign and can be treated with surgical excision.

• Publisher: American Academy of Family Physicians
• Subject: Antibiotics / Bacterial infections / Disease / Edema / Etiology / Family Medicine/General Medicine / Humans / Hydration / Infections / Inflammation / Internal Medicine / Mumps / Mumps - therapy / Oral hygiene / Pain / Parotitis - diagnosis / Parotitis - therapy / Patients / Salivary Gland Calculi - diagnosis / Salivary Gland Calculi - therapy / Salivary Gland Diseases - diagnosis / Salivary Gland Diseases - etiology / Salivary Gland Diseases - therapy / Salivary Gland Neoplasms - pathology / Salivary Gland Neoplasms - surgery / Serology / Sialadenitis - diagnosis / Sialadenitis - microbiology / Sialadenitis - therapy / Surgery / Tumors / Ultrasonic imaging / Viral infections