Clinical staging system for cancer of the salivary gland: A retrospective study

Abstract

A comprehensive retrospective study of 861 patients with cancer of the salivary glands from 12 U. S. and Canadian participating institutions was carried out, and a TNM classification system is proposed for the staging of salivary gland cancer. This involves use of five clinical variables: size and local extension of the primary tumor, palpability and suspicion of the regional lymph nodes, and the presence or absence of distant metastases. We recommend its use for the staging of this cancer.