Natural Course of Submandibular Salivary Gland Cancer

Disease Progression Pattern

• Tumor size and clinical stage are the most critical determinants of disease progression and survival, according to the British Journal of Cancer 1, 2, 3
• Local extension manifests as facial paralysis, trismus, and cutaneous infiltration as the tumor invades adjacent structures, with evidence from the British Journal of Cancer 1, 4
• Progressive enlargement of the submandibular mass with locoregional extension occurs as the disease progresses untreated, as reported in the British Journal of Cancer 1
• Signs of malignancy including facial nerve paralysis, trismus, and skin infiltration develop as the disease progresses, with the British Journal of Cancer providing evidence 1, 4
• Cervical lymphadenopathy develops as regional metastases occur, with the British Journal of Cancer supporting this finding 1