What kind of pathology can we find in salivary glands and how are they managed?
Our saliva is produced by the large (parotid, submaxillary gland) and the small salivary glands. Quite often various lesions can be found in these glands, either benign or not. Furthermore in many case little stones can be detected inside these glands resulting to an abnorma production and outflow of saliva in the oral cavity. All the above usually result to bulking/swelling of face and /or neck (depending on the gland) that can also be painful.
We always recommend imaging of the lesion and perhaps a biopsy or fine needle aspiration biopsy in order to choose the best therapeutical plan. In some certain cases the gland will have to be operated in order to remove the lesion. We perform this kind of surgery with extreme care to vascular and neural distribution of the area in order to achieve the best result with the almost no complication.
I have a swelling in my neck some time now. What can it be?
Quite often a patient complains of a swelling in the neck. Using imaging methods and -if necessary- fine needle aspiration biopsy we can make a diagnosis of the lesion.
Such lesions can be benign or not. The most common benign lesions are branchial cysts, thyroglossal duct cysts etc. These lesions are removed surgically with excellent results and no postoperative pain.
A lymph node can also be suddenly or gradually enlarged in the neck area. In such a case we perform a series of examinations and if needed we proceed to excision under local or general anesthesia.
Tracheostomy
Chronic patients with neurological disease (such as ALS) or diseases and conditions of the respiratory system (such as long lasting intubation) need a permanent breathing airway. The surgical procedure to obtain this airway is called tracheostomy and we perform it under general anesthesia.