What is Adenocarcinoma?
An adenocarcinoma is a form of cancer that develops in the body’s mucus-producing glands. Many organs have these glands, such as the lungs, colon, rectum, pancreas, breasts, and prostate.What is Adenocarcinoma Of The Parotid Gland?
Parotid adenocarcinoma is a cancer of the parotid gland that can appear as a hard growing mass or a nodule in the front of the ear.What is Parotid Gland?
There is a pair of salivary glands on each side of the face and in front of the ears. These glands are called the parotid glands. The parotid glands secrete saliva, which lubricates food and helps break it down.Disease Etiology
There is no exact well- known cause. However, certain genetic mutations, cigarette smoking and recurrent ear or teeth infections can cause parotid gland adenocarcinoma.Signs and Symptoms
The patient may suffer from the following signs and symptoms. These are- A growing mass or nodule in the front of the ear can develop on either the right side of the face or the left.
- Usually, the lump or nodule is painless, hard, but not attached to the surface, and may move under the skin when trying to move
Diagnosis
The following tests and procedures can be used to make a diagnosis. These are- A physician will do a physical examination of the jaws, face, neck, and throat to find out the lumps or masses and their nature.
- Imaging tests such as MRI, CT-scan, Or PET scan to find out the site, size, and extent of the tumor
- Fine needle aspiration biopsy and histopathological examination to rule out the type of cancer cells