Metastatic malignancy in the submandibular gland.

Metastatic disease in the major salivary glands has been observed and reported in the literature. Often the site of origin of the primary tumor is the skin or mucosal lining of the head and neck structures, and the primary tumors most commonly are melanomas or squamous-cell carcinomas. The most frequently involved salivary gland is the parotid. The submandibular and sublingual glands are rarely involved by mestastatic disease. Secondary lesions arising from distant primary tumors may occasionally involve the parotid gland, but they are extremely rare in the other major salivary glands. The second reported case of metastatic carcinoma in the submandibular gland is presented here. Our case and the previously reported case are similar in that both primary tumors originated in the breast. The clinical and morphologic features are reviewed.