clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
The features of tumours in the submandibular salivary glands vary:
- the pleomorphic adenoma forms a mass in the gland which is:
- painless
- slow-growing
- non-tender
- hard
- well-defined
- spherical
- carcinoma causes a mass in the gland which is:
- indistinct
- hot
- slightly tender
- rapidly growing
- painful
- numbness of the anterior 2/3 of the tongue indicates infiltration of the lingula nerve, and is diagnostic of carcinoma.
It may be difficult to distinguish a pleomorphic adenoma from lymph enlargement within the gland. A long history of slow, gradual growth is the most useful diagnostic feature. Another symptom to help distinguish from inflammatory disease is the lack of swelling on eating.