Clinical stage, particularly tumor size, maybe the critical factor to determine the outcome of salivary gland cancer and maybe more important than a histologic grade.

• Staging of acinic cell carcinoma depends on tumor size and location
• In general, tumors of the major salivary glands are staged according to
  • Size
  • Extraparenchymal extension
  • Lymph node involvement (in parotid tumors, whether or not the facial nerve is involved)
  • Presence of metastases
• Tumors arising in the minor salivary glands are staged according to the anatomic site of origin (e.g., oral cavity and sinuses)
• Diagnostic imaging studies may be used in staging. With excellent spatial resolution and superior soft-tissue contrast, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers advantages over computed tomographic scanning in the detection and localization of head and neck tumors.
• Overall, MRI is the preferred modality for the evaluation of suspected neoplasms of the salivary glands.