The parotid is a gland that makes and passes saliva into the mouth. There is one parotid gland on each side of the face. Saliva helps with eating, speaking, and keeping the mouth clean. Tumors can occur in the parotid gland. While most of these tumors are not cancer they should be removed (link to benign tumor handout). Cancerous tumors of the parotid gland are best treated with surgery, and may benefit from radiation and chemotherapy after surgery. Sometimes, surgery is done for inflammation of the parotid gland that cannot be treated another way.
