What is the parotid gland and should I be concerned with a lump in it?
The parotids are a pair of large saliva producing glands located just in front of and below the ear. There is a duct that runs from the gland into the mouth to provide saliva. The parotid gland can develop infections which generally cause painful swelling of the gland. Stones can also occur in the gland and may be noted as either painful or painless lumps. The parotid glands can also develop tumors. If a lump is present, it should be evaluated by an otolaryngologist to determine the cause.
