Tubarial Salivary Glands: Netherland Scientists Discover A New Organ
Researchers at Netherlands Cancer Institute accidentally discovered a new organ while performing combination scans and PET. "Discovery could be important for cancer treatment" says Wouter Vogel, Netherlands Cancer Institute radiation oncologist.
Netherlands Cancer Institute
The revolutionary “accidental” discovery of the new organ named Tubarial Salivary Glands was possible when the researchers at Netherlands Cancer Institute were practicing a combination CT Scans and positron emission topography ( PET ) to study prostate cancer, called PSMA PET-CT, designed to study more about tumorous growth.
The discoverers have named the new organ as ” Tubarial Salivary Glands” as it’s above a cartilage called torus tubarius. These glands potentially moisten and lubricate the upper throat, behind nose and mouth. This study was published in journal Radiotherapy and Oncology.
The study could conclude about the discovery after examining data of a hundred patients. Majority (99%) of them were male since the study originally aimed at study concerning prostate cancer.
Clinical trials of PSMA PET-CT proved it to be more efficient than conventional imaging at detecting meta sized prostate cancer.
In PSMA PET-CT scanning, doctors inject a radioactive “tracer” in the patient. This tracer then binds well to the protein PSMA, which is found to be elevated in prostate cancer cells.
The discovery could aid the cancer treatment development in medical science says the radiation oncologist at Netherlands Cancer Institute, Wouter Vogel.
The doctors using radiation on the head and neck to treat cancer try to avoid irradiating the salivary glands because damage to these glands can influence the various aspects of life including dry mouth, trouble speaking and eating. Thus impacting the fundamental activities needed to sustain a healthy life.
“Patients may have trouble eating, swallowing or speaking, which can be a real burden,” Vogel said. “Our next step is to find out how we can best spare these new glands and in which patients. If we can do this, patients may experience less side effects, which will benefit their overall quality of life after treatment.”
According to Wouter Vogel, there were three known large salivary glands in humans unti now. One under the tongue, one under the jaw and one at the back of the jaw, behind the cheek.
“Beyond those, perhaps a thousand microscopic salivary glands are scattered throughout the mucosal tissue of the throat and mouth,” Wouter Vogel said in a statement. “So, imagine our surprise when we found these,” Vogel said.