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.