Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Salivary stones, also called sialolithiasis, are hardened mineral deposits that form in the salivary glands. A stone that blocks the duct of a salivary gland can cause an infection (sialadenitis).

What to Expect

Our experts will take a detailed medical history and perform a head and neck examination, which may include the doctor manually examining the salivary glands inside your mouth to feel for stones.

The best way to detect salivary stones is with a CT scan, which will show the number, size and location of stones — information that is essential to treatment planning.

Good hydration, gland massage and salivary stimulation are recommended before stone removal.

If a salivary stone is causing you discomfort, ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help with swelling and pain. Your doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic to address infection.

Stones should be removed to avoid complications such as infection or abscess. In most cases, the surgeon can take the stone out while preserving the salivary gland, but sometimes the surgeon will need to resect (remove) the affected gland. Sialendoscopy is an endoscopic procedure that the surgeon may use as part of your surgical treatment. 

Salivary gland tumors may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Tumors can grow in the parotid glands on the side of the face, in the submandibular glands under the jaw, or in the sublingual glands under the tongue. 

Salivary gland cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells are found in one of these three types of salivary glands. Often, the only symptom of a salivary gland tumor is a lump or mass that may be painless.   

What to Expect

The first step in addressing a salivary gland tumor is diagnosis. A biopsy can help the doctor understand more about the cells in the tumor and how likely they are to multiply and spread. The biopsies used to learn more about tumors in the salivary glands are fine needle aspiration biopsy and incisional biopsy. Your doctor will choose the biopsy type that is better for you. 

If the biopsy confirms salivary gland cancer, your doctor is likely to recommend surgery as the first line of treatment. Some salivary gland cancer patients are candidates for transoral robotic surgery. If the salivary gland cancer is considered high grade, based on the shape of the cells and the number of places where the cancerous cells are actively dividing, your doctor may prescribe radiation therapy following surgery. 

Salivary glands can become infected by bacteria (especially strains of Staphylococcus, or staph) or viruses. Salivary gland infection, also called sialadenitis, is most likely to affect one of the parotid salivary glands near the ears on the side of the face, or the submandibular salivary glands under the jaw.

What to Expect

Your Salivary Gland Center doctor will take a detailed medical history and examine your salivary glands manually. If there is evidence of a salivary stone or blockage, imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound will help determine if a blockage is present.

Treatment is essential because salivary infections can get worse. The infection can spread into the deep tissues and bones of the head and neck or cause severe swelling that affects breathing.

Treatment involves hydration to increase salivary flow and gland massage. Your therapy plan may include steps to address any underlying condition such as a salivary stone or tumor that is blocking the gland.