These glands could lower side effects in head and neck radiation patients. Image courtesy Instagram
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists in the Netherlands have identified a previously unknown organ in the human throat, a finding that could transform cancer care for patients with head and neck tumours. The new organ, termed the tubarial salivary glands, was found deep in the upper part of the throat behind the nose, an area known as the nasopharynx. The glands, measuring about 1.5 inches in length, appear to play a vital role in keeping the nasopharyngeal area well-lubricated.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, until this revelation in 2020, medical science only recognised three major sets of salivary glands: parotid, submandibular and sublingual. While the nasopharynx was thought to contain only tiny, scattered mucous glands, researchers were astonished to find these larger, previously undocumented salivary glands. "As far as we knew, the only salivary or mucous glands in the nasopharynx are microscopically small and up to 1,000 are evenly spread out throughout the mucosa. So, imagine our surprise when we found these," radiation oncologist Dr Wouter Vogel of the Netherlands Cancer Institute told Daily Mail.
The accidental discovery occurred while researchers were testing a novel prostate cancer imaging technique known as PSMA PET-CT, which combines computed tomography (CT) with positron emission tomography (PET). During the scan, a radioactive tracer is injected into the patient, allowing clinicians to track cancer activity. While reviewing these scans, doctors observed two unusual hotspots lighting up in the nasopharynx region, leading to the unexpected identification of the tubarial glands, Science Alert reported.
What made the finding even more compelling was its consistency -- these glands appeared in all 100 patients who underwent the scan. Their similarity to other major salivary glands further confirmed that this was indeed a new organ system within the throat.
The discovery of the tubarial salivary glands has significant implications for cancer treatment, especially for patients receiving radiation therapy. Standard radiation therapy for head and neck cancers often damages the known salivary glands, leading to long-term side effects such as difficulty in eating, swallowing and speaking. Damage to salivary glands can drastically reduce a patient's quality of life, sometimes permanently.
Dr Vogel and his colleague, surgeon Matthijs H Valstar, analysed more than 700 cancer cases and found a direct correlation between radiation exposure to the newly identified glands and increased treatment complications. "For most patients, it should technically be possible to avoid delivering radiation to this newly discovered location of the salivary gland system in the same way we try to spare known glands," Vogel explained.
A step toward improving quality of life
The next phase of research will focus on refining radiation therapy techniques to protect the tubarial glands. By adjusting treatment plans to spare these structures, doctors hope to reduce side effects and improve recovery outcomes. If successful, this approach could mark a turning point in supportive cancer care, offering patients not just longer survival but a better quality of life after treatment.
The discovery of the tubarial salivary glands is a reminder that even in the 21st century, the human body still holds secrets waiting to be uncovered. For cancer patients worldwide, this hidden organ may soon become a key ally in the fight against one of the most challenging forms of the disease.