Parotid Tumors

Providers will do a physical examination focused on your head and neck. They’ll ask when you noticed the lump and if it’s grown. They may order the following tests:

Blood tests: Infections may make your parotid gland swell, so your provider may check for signs of leukocytosis (high white blood cell count) to see if an infection is why your parotid gland is swollen or larger than normal.
Imaging tests: Providers will order imaging tests like computed tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
Fine needle aspiration: This test can confirm that a parotid gland tumor is cancerous. Test results also identify the specific tumor subtype. There are more than 20 cancerous tumor subtypes and 11 noncancerous tumor subtypes.

Analysis also establishes the cancerous tumor’s stage and grade. The tumor stage is based on tumor location and size, and whether the tumor has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other areas of your body. The tumor grade is how cancerous cells appear when viewed under a microscope. Tumor grades run from low to high.

Providers use test results to develop treatment plans and a prognosis, which is what you can expect to happen after treatment.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

Living with atrial fibrillation?

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