Can Cell Phone Use Cause a Parotid Tumor?

Cell phones have become a large part of contemporary culture

so it is very easy to overlook the negative effects that it may have on our health. Many people use cell phones on a regular basis so it’s difficult to associate harmful consequences with cell phone use.

New research now suggests that we should be attentive about which parts of our bodies come in regular contact with our cell phone. Along with brain tumors, you should be conscious of cancer in the parotid gland. Dr. Larian and his expert team from the CENTER for Advanced Parotid & Facial Nerve Surgery consider every aspect of the health in your parotid gland.

Cell phones typically produce non-ionizing radiation, so the primary concern is DNA injury in the cells of areas that regularly come in to contact with cell phones, such as our faces and ears. Those that use cell phones should be aware of the radiation cell phones transmit even if cell phone use has not definitively been linked to causing tumors in the brain or head. Holding a cell phone close to the ear allows the radiation to be emitted directly into the parotid glands.

Tumors in the parotid gland are cancerous in only approximately 20% of the cases. However, an evaluation by an expert is required if the patient finds mass in their parotid gland, the most common type of salivary gland tumor. A fine-needle biopsy is used to determine if the mass is cancerous or not. Even benign tumors require immediate attention for many different reasons. Benign parotid tumors can push or grow around surrounding tissues as the tumor gets larger in size. A growing benign tumor may put pressure or engulf a facial nerve that is close in proximity to the tumor, making surgery more complicated.

Dr. Larian is a pioneer of the Micro-Parotidectomy, a minimally invasive parotid gland surgery technique. This surgery removes a small portion of or the entire parotid gland using a well-hidden, small incision. An internationally renowned expert in minimally invasive surgery techniques of the parotid gland, Dr. Larian has great satisfaction in reducing the surgical scar on a patient using the most cutting-edge procedures available. The micro-parotidectomy also tends to be less painful that the standard parotidectomy surgeries.

A key factor in choosing the best parotid gland surgeon is how they will work to preserve the facial nerve that runs through your parotid glands. The facial nerve is extremely vulnerable during a parotid gland surgery, so you want to ensure that your surgeon does not disturb the delicate facial nerve during surgery in the area.

Because a patient’s safety is Dr. Larian’s top priority, he performs his parotid gland surgeries with Dr. Azizzadeh, a leading facial nerve expert. Together, they dedicate the first portion of their surgery to finding the facial nerve and all of its branches. In cases that have already damaged the facial nerve, such as in deep lobe parotid tumors or cancer, a facial nerve reconstruction is performed during the same time. This comprehensive approve to surgery of the parotid gland has minimized scarring and sped up recovery time. Dr. Larian gives his patients optimal results while being minimally invasive.

If you feel you may have a growing mass around the area that comes in contact with your cell phone, you’ll want treatment from the best parotid gland surgeon. Contact the CENTER for Advanced Parotid & Facial Nerve Surgery today to find out your options and how you will benefit from a micro-parotidectomy from parotid expert Dr. Larian. Call (310) 461-0300 today!