Definition

Stage IV salivary gland cancer is divided into stages IVA, IVB, and IVC. In stage IVA, (1) cancer has spread to the skin, jawbone, ear canal, and/or facial nerve. Cancer may have spread to one lymph node on the same side of the head or neck as the tumor. The lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller and cancer has not grown outside the lymph node; OR (2) the tumor is any size and cancer may have spread to soft tissue around the salivary gland or to the skin, jawbone, ear canal, and/or facial nerve. Cancer has spread (a) to one lymph node on the same side of the head or neck as the tumor; the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller and cancer has grown outside the lymph node; or (b) to one lymph node on the same side of the head or neck as the tumor; the lymph node is larger than 3 centimeters but not larger than 6 centimeters and cancer has not grown outside the lymph node; or (c)to more than one lymph node on the same side of the head or neck as the tumor; the lymph nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller and cancer has not grown outside the lymph nodes; or (d) to lymph nodes on both sides of the head or neck or on the side opposite the primary tumor; the lymph nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller and cancer has not grown outside the lymph nodes.