Current RMA Instruments:
| Reasonable Hypothesis SOP | 102 of 2023 |
| Balance of Probabilities SOP | 103 of 2023 |
Changes from Previous Instruments:
ICD Coding:
- ICD-10-AM: C08, C07
Brief description
Salivary gland malignancies are a rare type of cancer that begins in the salivary gland. This malignancy can involve the major salivary glands (the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands), the minor salivary glands (there are hundreds scattered throughout the oral cavity) and the salivary ducts. Benign neoplasms of the salivary gland are relatively more common than salivary gland cancer.
Confirming the diagnosis
Confirmation requires histological examination from excision or biopsy of the tumour.
The relevant medical specialists include Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons, ENT surgeons or Oncologists.
Additional diagnoses covered by these SOPs
- Acinic cell carcinoma of a salivary gland
- Adenocarcinoma of a salivary gland
- Adenoid cystic carcinoma in the oral cavity
- Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of a salivary gland
- Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of a salivary gland
- Salivary duct carcinoma
Conditions excluded from these SOPs:
- Basal cell adenoma #
- Canalicular adenoma #
- Myoepithelioma #
- Pleomorphic adenoma #
- Warthin tumour #
- Hodgkin lymphoma *
- Malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity MN of the oral cavity, oropharynx and hypopharynx *
- Melanoma (probable metastasis from another site) *
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma *
- Soft tissue sarcoma of salivary gland * - Soft Tissue Sarcoma SOP
- Squamous cell carcinoma of salivary gland (probable metastasis from another site)
* another SOP applies - the SOP has the same name unless otherwise specified
# non-SOP condition
Clinical onset
Clinical onset will generally be at the time of diagnosis. However, in some cases it may be possible to back-date the clinical onset on the basis of the first presentation of symptoms and signs once the diagnosis has been established. An early sign may be the appearance of a painless lump or swelling on or near the jaw, in the neck or in the mouth. As the malignancy progresses, there may be pain in the area of the salivary gland, facial numbness or weakness, difficulty swallowing, change in voice or difficulty opening the mouth fully.
Clinical worsening
The only SOP worsening factor is for inability to obtain appropriate clinical management. The management options of salivary gland cancers depends on various factors including the stage of disease but delay in appropriate treatment could result in worsening of the condition. Establishing whether worsening beyond the normal course of the disease has occurred will generally require expert medical opinion from the appropriate treating specialist.