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<unk> <unk>  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.
Size
Extraparenchymal extension
Lymph node involvement (in parotid tumors, whether or not the facial nerve is involved)
Presence of metastases
Acinic cell carcinoma staging
Acinic cell carcinoma classification
Carcinoid syndrome staging
Vulvar cancer staging
Breast cancer staging
Colorectal cancer staging
Vulvar cancer classification
Pancreatic cancer staging