What causes swollen parotid glands?
Several health conditions can cause pain and parotid gland swelling, including:
- Sialolithiasis. This is the medical term for calcified stones (calculi) that can develop and block your parotid gland ducts. Sialolithiasis results in painful swelling that worsens when you eat.
- Sialadenitis. This refers to parotid gland infection caused by blockages, bacteria or viruses. Culprits include staph infections and the mumps virus.
- Parotid gland tumors. These can develop in either lobe, causing swelling of your jaw and face. Most parotid gland tumors are noncancerous. But it’s possible to develop cancerous parotid gland tumors.
- Parotid gland cancer. Salivary gland cancers — such as mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma — aren’t very common. In fact, they make up about 6% to 8% of all head and neck cancers. But if you develop parotid gland cancer, prompt treatment is necessary to prevent the cancer cells from spreading to your lymph nodes.
What are the symptoms of a blocked parotid gland?
Most parotid gland conditions cause similar symptoms, including:
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- Swelling of your face and jaw.
- Pain (sometimes discomfort is worse after eating).
- Fever.
Are there tests to check the health of your parotid gland?
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Like most health conditions, a proper diagnosis begins with a physical examination. Your healthcare provider will feel around your parotid glands to see if you’re having any pain or swelling.
If they suspect an issue with your parotid glands, they may request additional tests, including:
- Needle biopsy. During this procedure, your healthcare provider uses a thin needle to collect fluid from your parotid gland. They’ll send the fluid to a lab for testing.
- Imaging tests. Your healthcare provider may request a salivary gland scan using MRI, ultrasound or computed tomography (CT scan).
What are common treatments for parotid gland conditions?
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of your parotid gland condition. For example, if a bacterial infection causes your parotid gland to swell, then your healthcare provider will likely prescribe antibiotics.
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If stones are blocking your parotid gland, your healthcare provider may recommend facial massage or sucking on lemon candy to encourage more saliva production. If this doesn’t work, they may try different medications to induce salivary flow. When nonsurgical treatments don’t help, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery to remove the stones.
Parotid gland tumors usually require parotidectomy — surgery to remove part or all of your parotid gland.
People with parotid gland cancer may need surgery to remove the gland and/or a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
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