Parotid gland:what diseases can suffer and how to treat them ?

The parotid gland is a salivary gland located around the ear, whose function is the segregation of saliva to facilitate the intake of food.

This gland can present multiple diseases:

-Inflammation of repetition in childhood

-Infections

-Appearance of stones

-Appearance of tumors

.

These complications usually have as main symptoms increased size and pain of the parotid gland.

Treatment

The surgery is performed mainly in cases of tumors and usually consists of almost complete extirpation of the gland affected. The other pathologies are treated medically or with the help of sialoendoscopia (endoscopy of the salivary glands ) in selected cases of urolithiasis.

Surgery

The parotidectomy is the extirpation of the parotid gland. This gland is crossed by the facial nerve ( responsible for the mimicry of the face). In most cases, the tumors are above the nerve and is only necessary to remove the superficial part.

It is a delicate surgery for possible sequels on the nerve and scars or depressions that may remain in the face. To minimize these risks, we perform the operation with an approach to lifting, getting leave imperceptible scars and correct sag.

The postoperative usually consists of one or two days in the hospital and a week of action until the withdrawal of points and then the patient will usually return to normal life.