What is the difference between salivary gland cancer and oral cancer?

Cancer: Oral cancers include the lips, lining of the mouth, floor of mouth and the tongue. Squamous cell cancer is the most common type of oral cancer. They are commonly associated with tobacco, smokeless tobacco and alcohol use and abuse. Salivary gland cancers involve the the salivary glands which include the parotid, submandibular and minor salivary glands.

Good question: You can have a salivary gland cancer which presents in the mouth (oral cavity), as you have hundreds of minor salivary glands in the mouth. Most tumors arising front minor salivary glands are malignant (opposite is true from the major glands). However, most of the time "oral cancer" is going to refer to squamous cell or another tumor from the lining of the mouth.

Location: There are 3 pairs of main salivary glands, in front of both ears, under the jaw and under the tongue. Cancers of these glands are salivary gland cancers. Cancer of the lining of the inside of the mouth are oral cavity cancers.

Very different: Salivary cancer is of the saliva glands such as parotid, submandibular, or minor glands. Oral cancer is of the lining of the mouth usually caused by smoking.