American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

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What is the classification of a mass found in a large salivary gland?

Benign
Malignant
Infectious
Inflammatory

The correct answer is: Benign

When evaluating a mass found in a large salivary gland, classifying it as benign is often appropriate due to the prevalence of non-cancerous conditions in these glands. Many benign tumors, such as pleomorphic adenomas, are commonly observed in the major salivary glands, particularly the parotid gland. These tumors typically present as painless swelling and have well-defined margins on imaging studies. While malignant masses can occur and typically show more aggressive features, they are less common compared to benign forms. Additionally, infectious processes and inflammatory conditions may also result in swelling of the salivary glands, such as mumps or sialadenitis, but these conditions are classified based on their etiology rather than being a mass per se. In this context, the classification as benign is supported by the statistical prevalence of benign tumors in salivary glands and the typical clinical presentation associated with them.