Salivary Gland Cancer: Screening

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 05/2020

ON THIS PAGE: You will find out more about screening for salivary gland cancer. You will also learn the risks and benefits of screening. Use the menu to see other pages.

Screening is used to look for cancer before you have any symptoms or signs. Scientists have developed, and continue to develop, tests that can be used to screen a person for specific types of cancer. The overall goals of cancer screening are to:

  • Lower the number of people who die from the disease, or eliminate deaths from cancer altogether

  • Lower the number of people who develop the disease

Learn more about the basics of cancer screening.

Screening information for salivary gland cancer

There are currently no specific screening tools that are used for salivary gland cancer for the general public. It is important to receive regular health and dental exams. If anything unusual is found during these general checkups, your doctor or dentist will recommend a more extensive examination. This may include using 1 or more of the diagnostic procedures mentioned in the Diagnosis section.

The next section in this guide is Symptoms and Signs. It explains what body changes or medical problems salivary gland cancer can cause. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.