The Role of Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM) in Parotid Gland Tumor Surgeries

Abstract

The human oral cavity contains hundreds of small and large salivary glands in and around the mouth that produce saliva. Out of three major salivary glands, the parotid gland is the body’s largest salivary gland, producing 25 percent of the saliva. The other two salivary glands are the sublingual gland (under the tongue) and the submandibular gland (below the jaw). Located in the retromandibular fossa, the parotid gland is bordered superiorly by the zygomatic arch, posteriorly by the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and anteriorly by the masseter. The primary function of salivary glands is to secrete saliva, which serves several digestive and non-digestive functions in the body, including facilitating chewing, swallowing, and speaking. Several diseases can affect salivary glands, including sialolithiasis (stone formation in the gland), sialadenitis (bacterial infection of the gland), viral infections of the gland (mumps), and tumor formation. Most salivary tumors are benign (noncancerous) and grow in the parotid gland.