The article tells of a new model for salivary gland tumors. Salivary gland tumors that can be clearly seen under usb-microscope are uncontrolled growth of cells that started in saliva producing glands. Structures like the tongue, cheeks, and palate contain many glands that produce saliva. There are enzymes in the saliva that can be seen clearly under usb-microscope. They even act as catalysts that speed up metabolic processes. They are known to be responsible in beginning the digestion of food while it is still in the mouth. There are three big pairs of salivary glands. The major glands are the parotid glands, submandibular glands and sublingual glands. They are the large and paired salivary glands. The parotids are located inside the cheeks below the ears. The submandibular glands on the other hand are located on the floor of the mouth,. They are specifically on the inner side of each part of the lower jaw. Lastly, the sublingual glands are also in the floor of the mouth, under the tongue.
The article tells that the parotids are the salivary glands most often affected by tumors. Yet most of the tumors that grow in the parotid glands are benign by nature. Approximately 8 out of every 10 salivary tumors diagnosed are in a parotid gland. One in 10 diagnosed is in a submandibular gland. The remaining 10 percent are diagnosed in other salivary glands. Symptoms of the condition are often absent until the tumor is large or has metastasized. The common symptoms associated with these kinds of tumors include a lump or mass in the mouth, swelling in the face, pain in the jaw or the side of the face, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing and difficulty speaking.
A tissue sample will be taken for study via a biopsy to diagnose the disease. An incision is necessary to take the tissue sample. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans are also used to evaluate the tumor. These diagnostic procedures help determine whether the cancer has spread to sites adjacent to the salivary gland where it is found. MRI offers a good way to examine the tonsils and the back of the tongue, which are soft tissues. CT is tapped as a way of studying the jaw, which is bone. Salivary glands can be clearly seen under usb-microscope.
Cancers of the salivary glands begin to grow in epithelial cells. They are called carcinomas. The cancer of the salivary glands is rare. However, they collectively comprise the most heterogenous group of tumors in any organ of the body.  In the article, it is explained that there are some scientists who report that they have developed a novel mouse model that induces extremely interesting precancerous lesions and carcinomas of the salivary glands.  The mouse model builds on the groups previously reported observation that salivary glands express a type of intermediate keratin. This keratin is called cytokeratin 5. It is found in the ductal epithelia.  The scientists have found that when they applied a chemical promoter to salivary gland cells that prompts the expression of both the cytokeratin 5 gene and a mutated K ras gene, an oncogene long linked to cancer. This resulted to every mouse producing precancerous lesions and carcinomas in as short as one week, as the study found.  Scientist further explains that when the promoter was targeted to a specifically sensitive cell compartment within the salivary glands, it triggered full cancer.  Read the entire article