Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Other Salivary Gland Conditions
Number of Conditions: 2
Xerostomia (Dry Mouth)
Specialty: Dental and Oral Health
Category: Salivary Gland Disorders
Sub-category: Other Salivary Gland Conditions
Symptoms:
dry or sticky feeling in the mouth; difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking; bad breath; sore throat; cracked lips; altered sense of taste; increased risk of dental cavities
Root Cause:
Reduced or absent saliva production caused by salivary gland dysfunction, dehydration, certain medications, or underlying conditions (e.g., diabetes, Sjögren’s syndrome).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation, saliva flow measurement, imaging (sialography, ultrasound), and sometimes lab tests to assess underlying conditions.
Treatment:
Address underlying causes, maintain oral hygiene, stimulate saliva production, and use saliva substitutes.
Medications:
Pilocarpine (a cholinergic agonist to stimulate salivary glands), cevimeline (muscarinic agonist). Both medications help to increase saliva production.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common, especially in older adults; prevalence varies between 10–30%.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Aging, medication use (antihistamines, antidepressants, diuretics), radiation therapy to the head/neck, autoimmune diseases (e.g., Sjögren's syndrome).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally manageable with proper treatment; chronic dry mouth can increase the risk of dental complications.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Increased risk of dental caries, gum disease, oral infections (e.g., candidiasis), and difficulty eating or speaking.
Salivary Gland Tumors
Specialty: Dental and Oral Health
Category: Salivary Gland Disorders
Sub-category: Other Salivary Gland Conditions
Symptoms:
painless lump or swelling in the salivary gland; facial asymmetry; difficulty swallowing; numbness or weakness in the face if malignant
Root Cause:
Abnormal cell growth in salivary glands; most are benign (e.g., pleomorphic adenoma), but some can be malignant (e.g., mucoepidermoid carcinoma).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, imaging (ultrasound, MRI, CT), and fine-needle aspiration biopsy.
Treatment:
Surgery is the primary treatment, with radiation therapy for malignant cases.
Medications:
No specific medications for benign tumors; chemotherapy agents (e.g., cisplatin , fluorouracil ) for advanced malignancies.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign tumor, accounting for 60–70% of cases.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Radiation exposure, genetic predisposition, tobacco and alcohol use for malignant cases.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent for benign tumors with surgical removal; varies for malignant tumors based on stage and type.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Recurrence (benign tumors), facial nerve damage, metastasis (malignant tumors).