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Salivary Gland Surgery

The salivary glands in the mouth constantly produce saliva to keep the mouth moist and help with the digestion of food. Ducts in the glands which drain the saliva can become infected and cancerous or get blocked by formations of tiny calcium stones, or calculi, caused by chemicals in saliva.

 

The typical symptoms requiring salivary gland surgery are painful swelling, intermittent dull pain, and infection which may form into an abscess.
A GP may be able to spot the swelling or it will be revealed on an X-ray or
ultrasound but more complex formations may only show up on a CT or MRI scan. A sialendoscopy can be performed which involves a thin tube with a tiny light and camera (endoscope) being inserted into the duct so a consultant can remove the stone if it is visible.
If surgery is required, it is performed under general anaesthetic with small incisions being made in the duct to remove the stone. The patient will normally stay in the hospital for 24 hours before returning home.
Most people who develop a stone will not have further trouble after it is removed.
Tumours are rare with eight people in every 100,000 developing a benign salivary tumour each year in the UK which can be removed with surgery. Malignant tumours are even rarer with only 600 reported in the UK in 2014.

Make An Appointment

To ask a question about salivary gland surgery or to book an appointment with one of our experts you can call us on 020 7078 3845 or email us at [email protected].

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MaxFax Clinic

Our MaxFax Unit provides a bespoke medical service at St John and St Elizabeth Hospital specialising in oral and maxillofacial conditions, offering a range of surgeries and other treatments.

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Patient information

Our Hospital is renowned for providing exemplary levels of care across more than 90 services. From orthopaedics, to urology, our private GP practice and Urgent Care Clinic, our services are led by some of London’s leading Consultants. For more information, and to find a service suitable for your care, find out more about the services that we offer.

Make an enquiry

If you have any questions relating to treatment options or pricing information, get in touch with us by filling out one of our contact boxes or giving us a call on 020 7078 3845.

Our Appointments Team have a dedicated and caring approach to finding you the earliest appointment possible with the best specialist.

If you are self-paying you don’t need a referral from your GP for a consultation. You can simply refer yourself* and book an appointment.

If you have health insurance (e.g. Bupa, Axa Health, Aviva), you will need to contact your insurer to get authorisation before any treatment, and in most cases you will also require a referral letter from your GP.

If you are not registered with a GP, we have an in-house private GP practice you can use. Alternatively, we can suggest the most appropriate course of action for you to take, given your location and individual circumstances.

*Please note – for investigations such as X-rays and MRIs, a referral will be required. However, we may be able to arrange this for you through our on-site private GP.

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