Early symptoms of submandibular gland tumor

People don't know much about submandibular gland tumor, which is a tumor that occurs in the submandibular area of ​​the human oral cavity. According to relevant statistics, more than half of submandibular gland tumors are malignant. Among them, most male patients have malignant tumors, while most female patients have benign tumors. Genetic, endocrine and immune mechanisms are all responsible for the disease. The main treatment is to remove the submandibular gland and tumor or perform submandibular triangle dissection.

1. What is a submandibular gland tumor?

Submandibular gland tumor is an oral tumor that occurs in the submandibular area. It is a type of salivary gland tumor, and 60% of them are malignant. Adenoid cystic carcinoma is the most common malignant submandibular gland tumor, followed by mucoepidermoid carcinoma, both of which account for more than half of submandibular gland tumors. Others include undifferentiated carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant mixed tumor, adenocarcinoma, etc. Male patients are more likely to have malignant tumors, while female patients are more likely to have benign tumors. Malignant submandibular gland tumors are occasionally painful or grow rapidly.

2. Causes

The environment and lifestyle have an important impact on the occurrence of tumors. The body's internal factors also play an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors, such as genetics, endocrine and immune mechanisms.

3. Symptoms

A slowly growing mass in the submandibular area is the most common presenting symptom associated with a submandibular gland tumor. Painless ones are mostly benign, while malignant ones are occasionally accompanied by pain or grow faster. Clinically, it is not uncommon for patients to present with hemi-tongue numbness or tongue pain instead of submandibular mass as the main complaint. Such cases are mostly adenoid cystic carcinoma, the mass is hard and not adhered to the skin, and sometimes the skin becomes thinner under pressure but is still mobile. The tumor involves surrounding tissues, resulting in poor tumor mobility and limited opening of the mouth. The manifestation of submandibular gland tumors sometimes includes involvement of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve or the hypoglossal nerve. Advanced tumors may penetrate the skin or mucous membranes, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma may leak thick mucus after rupture or inappropriate incision or surgery. Regardless of whether the submandibular gland tumor is benign or malignant, the clinical manifestation is the appearance of a mass in the submandibular triangle area. Benign mixed tumors grow slowly and painlessly, have clear boundaries, are movable, and are round in shape. They may also be typical nodular in shape. Malignant tumors generally grow faster, but some may have a history of several years. The tumor is hard and often has spontaneous pain or tenderness and symptoms of nerve involvement. When the lingual nerve is affected, tongue pain or numbness may occur, which is most obvious at the tip of the tongue. When the lingual nerve is affected, symptoms of tongue paralysis may occur, i.e. tongue movement is restricted, and the tip of the tongue deviates to the affected side when the tongue is extended. In severe cases, the tongue muscles may atrophy and have muscle tremors. When the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve is affected, the corner of the mouth on the affected side droops, and the red lips cannot be everted.

4. Treatment

Surgical removal. The principle of surgery is to completely remove the tumor and the entire gland. If it is highly suspected to be a malignant tumor, the scope of resection needs to be expanded. If the tumor is adequately resected and the tumor lesions are localized, radiotherapy is generally not required. The effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs on tumors is uncertain. There is no effective preventive effect on controlling distant metastasis of adenoid cystic carcinoma.

5. Prognosis

The prognosis is not as good as that of parotid gland tumors, and the tumors are more likely to recur locally and metastasize to distant sites. Correct selection of the initial treatment plan is the key to determining prognosis.