Salivary Gland Diseases

1. Infections

1. Infections can either be viral or bacterial in origin
2. Bacterial
   1. Use of antibiotics to treat the infection
   2. Usually affects one side of the pair of glands and is painful
   3. May result in the formation of pus in the gland → Requires surgical drainage

2. Stone Formation

1. Stone formation within the salivary duct will cause pain and swelling of the gland
2. Small stones may discharge spontaneously through the natural opening of the duct into the mouth
3. Larger stones may become stuck at the opening and may require a minor surgical procedure to remove it

3. Autoimmune Disease

1. Autoimmune salivary gland disease can manifest in different ways
2. Sometimes it can cause pain and swelling, while in others, it can manifest with dry mouth and eyes
3. The diagnosis is confirmed with blood tests and a lip biopsy for some patients

4. Salivary Gland Tumours

1. Salivary gland tumours can be benign or malignant
2. Tumours in the parotid gland are mostly benign, but tumours in the submandibular and sublingual gland have a higher risk of malignancy
3. If a tumour is suspected, a needle biopsy is performed to determine whether it is benign or malignant.
4. The treatment is by surgical excision