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Dr Smit DoshiHead & Neck Onco Surgeon
Salivary Gland Tumours

Speciality

Salivary Gland Tumours

Parotid and submandibular tumours — with facial nerve preservation.

About Salivary Gland

Salivary gland tumours range from benign to highly aggressive. The challenge in parotid surgery is preserving the facial nerve, which passes through the gland. Dr Smit Doshi performs facial nerve-monitored parotidectomy and submandibular gland surgery with consistently low complication rates.

Symptoms

Signs to take seriously

  • 1Painless swelling in front of or below the ear
  • 2A lump under the jaw
  • 3Facial weakness or asymmetry
  • 4Pain in the ear or jaw
  • 5Difficulty opening the mouth
  • 6Numbness on one side of the face

Causes

Risk factors

Age 50+ (most common in older adults)Prior radiation to the head and neckOccupational exposure to silica dust, rubberTobacco use (rare association)Family history

Diagnosis

The path to a confirmed diagnosis

  1. 01

    Clinical palpation of the gland and facial nerve testing

  2. 02

    Ultrasound of the gland and neck

  3. 03

    FNAC or core biopsy

  4. 04

    MRI of the face and parotid

  5. 05

    CT scan for staging in malignant cases

Treatment

How Dr Doshi treats this

Superficial parotidectomy

Removal of the superficial lobe of the parotid for benign tumours, with full facial nerve preservation.

Total parotidectomy

Removal of both lobes for malignant or deep-lobe tumours, with continuous facial nerve monitoring.

Submandibular gland excision

Removal of the submandibular gland with care to preserve the marginal mandibular and lingual nerves.

Selective neck dissection

For malignant salivary gland tumours with suspected lymph node involvement.

Facial reanimation

In rare cases where the facial nerve is involved by tumour, reconstruction using nerve grafts and dynamic slings restores facial movement.

Recovery

What to expect afterwards

  • 1

    Hospital stay of 1–3 days

  • 2

    A small drain is removed within 48 hours

  • 3

    Temporary facial weakness can occur in 10–20% and usually recovers fully

  • 4

    Sutures are removed in 7 days

  • 5

    Return to normal activities within 2 weeks

Patient story

I was terrified of facial paralysis. Dr Doshi’s nerve-monitored surgery left me with no visible weakness and a scar I can barely find six months later.

Rekha Patel, Gandhinagar · Parotid Tumour

Frequently asked

What patients ask about salivary gland tumours

Have a question that isn’t here? Reach out — we usually reply within two hours.

Take the first step today.

Early detection saves lives. Speak with Dr Doshi — a 15-minute consultation can change the course of treatment.

Disclaimer: This information is for awareness only and does not substitute a medical consultation. For personalised advice on your condition, please book an appointment with Dr Doshi.

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