In the first big discovery of the human body in recent times, scientists have now discovered a set of salivary glands set deep in the upper part of the throat.
Researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute wrote about the discovery in the journal Radiotherapy and Oncology, adding that they most likely keep the upper throat behind the nose and mouth moist.
These glands are behind the nose in the nasopharynx region, which was previously thought to host only microscopic, diffuse, salivary glands. But this new discovery is of glands of about 1.5 inches (3.9 centimeters), according to Live Science.
Researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute were using a combination of CT scans and positron emission tomography (PET) and made the accidental discovery of a new set of glands.
Radiation oncologist Wouter Vogel and oral and maxillofacial surgeon Matthijs Valst made the unexpected discovery while studying the scans as part of their research.
“People have three sets of large salivary glands, but not there. As far as we knew, the only salivary or mucous glands in the nasopharynx are microscopically small, and up to 1000 are evenly spread out throughout the mucosa. So, imagine our surprise when we found these.”Wouter Vogel, radiation oncologist
According to Medical Xpress, the two researchers teamed up with their colleagues at UMC Utrecht and found that these glands showed up in every one of the 100 patients who had been scanned with the new PSMA PET/CT scan for prostate cancer treatment.
“The two new areas that lit up turned out to have other characteristics of salivary glands, as well.”Wouter Vogel, radiation oncologist
Important Discovery for Cancer Care
Doctors who use radiation to treat cancer and try to avoid delivering radiation to these newly discovered glands much like how currently they try to avoid the known glands.
“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.”Wouter Vogel, radiation oncologist
(With inputs from Live Science and Medical Xpress)
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