Can chronic parotitis lead to salivary gland cancer?

Question

Hi doctor,

I have chronic sialadenitis inside my right cheek (where parotid glands are), as told by my ENT specialist here. He ruled out some tumors and did not prescribe me any medicine. I also do not feel any pain, redness, or swelling. I just want a second opinion. Do I need to take any antibiotics or any test like MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)/CT (computed tomography) scan?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Chronic inflammation of the parotid gland is known as chronic parotitis. Sialadenitis is a term generally used for submandibular and sublingual salivary glands. Common symptoms of chronic parotitis are repeated swellings in the parotid area associated with pain and tenderness, sometimes fever, and generalized weakness. If these are your symptoms, you should undergo an ultrasound scan of the parotid gland, a CT sialogram to rule out any stones obstructing the duct, and fine-needle aspiration cytology of the parotid to confirm chronic inflammation. Usually, chronic parotitis does not require much treatment unless during acute events of pain and swelling. Usually, it is self-resolving, and surgery is rarely indicated.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

If you do not have swelling or pain, then it is not parotitis. Heaviness can be due to muscular spasms in the cheek. Otherwise, chronic parotitis will be symptomatic and will be obvious. Even if it is chronic parotitis, there is no chance of it becoming cancer in the future.