Metastasis to the submandibular gland in oral cavity carcinoma

Abstract

Because the submandibular gland is believed to have no intraparenchymal lymph nodes, preserving the submandibular gland for neck dissection and transferring the submandibular gland in order to prevent xerostomia induced by radiation therapy in patients with head and neck cancer have recently been described. We report a case of intraparenchymal metastasis in the submandibular gland 8 months after the initial intraoral excision of tongue cancer. This finding offers evidence that the submandibular gland includes intraparenchymal metastasis that can be involved with cancer.