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Clinical features

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

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.

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