Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Salivary Glands for Sjogren's Syndrome: Diagnostic and Monitoring Insights
Published on: October 13, 2023
An evidence based approach to the management of salivary masses
1Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
Background:
Salivary lumps are common and constitute 13.8% of all lumps assessed at the North Glasgow neck lump clinic. We present our management plan for these conditions.
Method:
Literature search using key words salivary lumps or glands or cancer or sialadenitis or sialalisthiasis in combination with diagnosis, management, investigation, treatment, intervention and surgery was performed in June 2009 using MEDLINE and Pubmed. Data from the North Glasgow neck lump clinic database are also presented.
Results:
Published literature on management of salivary lumps is level 2/3 evidence.
Conclusion:
The majority of salivary gland swellings can be adequately assessed with ultrasound and ultrasound guided FNA. The majority of patients with salivary gland tumours are likely to benefit from surgical excision. Due to the higher risk of malignancy in submandibular gland tumours surgical excision should be undertaken, unless there is significant co-morbidity.
