Salivary gland cancer

What is salivary gland cancer?

Salivary gland cancer is a rare type of head and neck cancer. It starts in one of the salivary glands. Most tumours that start in the salivary glands are non cancerous (benign) but some are cancerous.

The salivary glands

There are several different salivary glands inside and near your mouth. Salivary glands make spit (saliva). Saliva helps us to:

keep our mouth and throat moist
swallow food
digest food
protect against infections in the mouth and throat
protect our teeth

There are two main types of salivary glands called the:

major salivary glands
minor salivary glands

Major salivary glands

We have 3 main pairs of major salivary glands, the:

parotid glands – just under the lobes of your ears
sublingual glands – under your tongue
submandibular glands – under each side of your jawbone

Diagram showing the position of the salivary glands .

Minor salivary glands

As well as the 3 major pairs of salivary glands we have over 600 smaller, minor salivary glands throughout the lining of the mouth and throat.

The cells of the salivary glands

There are a number of different types of cells in the salivary glands. Cancer can start in any of these cells.

Your exact type of salivary gland cancer will depend on which cell type your cancer started in.

How common is it?

Salivary gland cancer is a very rare cancer. Around 720 people are diagnosed with salivary gland cancer in the UK every year. It is slightly more common in men than women.

We don’t know what causes salivary gland cancer but several factors can increase your risk.

Find out about the causes and risks of salivary gland cancer

Last reviewed: 20 Mar 2023

Next review due: 20 Mar 2026

Risks and causes

Your risk of salivary gland cancer increases with age. Radiation treatment to the head and neck area can also increase your risk.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of salivary gland cancer is a swelling on the side of the face, just in front of the ear or under the jawbone.

Diagnosing salivary gland cancer

You usually start by seeing your GP and they might refer you to a specialist and organise tests.

Treatment

Treatment for salivary gland cancer depends on where the cancer is, the size, whether it has spread anywhere else and your health.

Salivary gland cancer main page

Salivary gland cancer can start in any of the glands that make spit (saliva). As well as 3 major pairs of salivary glands we have over 600 smaller, minor salivary glands throughout the lining of the mouth and throat.