Scientists in the Netherlands discovered a new pair of salivary glands in the human throat while testing a cancer scan.
Scientists in the Netherlands have made a surprising discovery of a new organ in the human throat. While testing a new cancer scan in 2020, they accidentally found a set of glands deep in the upper part of the throat. This discovery could change the understanding of human anatomy.
The newly found glands, called the ‘tubarial salivary glands,’ are believed to help keep the area behind the nose well-lubricated. Researchers think this could be important for improving the quality of life for patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck tumours.
The Discovery Happened By Accident During Cancer Tests
Researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam were testing a new PSMA PET-CT scan, which combines computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) to detect prostate cancer. During the process, a radioactive tracer is injected into the patient’s body, allowing doctors to track its path.
While this method is usually used to find prostate tumours, the team noticed two unexpected areas lighting up in the back of the nasopharynx, the area behind the nose. These glands, about 1.5 inches long, looked similar to the major salivary glands already known.
“People have three sets of large salivary glands, but not there,” said radiation oncologist Wouter Vogel, as quoted by the Daily Mail. “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,” he added.
The glands appeared in all 100 patient scans they studied.
This Discovery Can Help Reduce Side Effects of Radiation
At the institute, Vogel and surgeon Matthijs H Valstar study how radiation affects patients with head and neck tumours. Radiation therapy can damage known salivary glands, making it hard for patients to eat, swallow, or speak.
Vogel explained, “Radiation would cause the same side effects in the submandibular salivary glands.” After examining more than 700 cases, the researchers found that the more radiation these new glands received, the worse the patients’ complications were.