26 April 2026
: Case report 
Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Submandibular Gland in an Older Adult: A Rare Case and Literature Review
Rare disease
Rossana Moi ABCDEFG 1, Ingrid Raponi
ABCDEFG 1*, Alessandra Perfetti BE 2, Silvana Giacinti BE 3, Michele Battista BE 4, Piero Luigi Alò BE 2, Andrea Marzetti ABCDEFG 1
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.951324
Am J Case Rep 2026; 27:e951324
Table 2 Summary of disease staging, treatment strategies, and prognosis for submandibular gland neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC).
| Stage | Description | 5-year survival rate | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage I (localized) | Tumor confined to the primary site without lymph node involvement or distant metastasis | 70% | Surgery ± radiotherapy |
| Stage II (regionalized) | Tumor with significant local extension or involvement of regional lymph nodes without distant metastasis | 50% | Surgery + radiotherapy ± chemotherapy |
| Stage II (locally advanced) | Tumor invading adjacent structures and/or multiple lymph nodes, but no distant metastasis | 30% | Radical surgery + chemotherapy ± radiotherapy |
| Stage IV (metastatic) | Tumor with distant metastases or extensive invasion of vital structures | 10% | Palliative chemotherapy ± radiotherapy |
| Table adapted by the authors based on data from published literature and clinical guidelines on high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas [,,,]. | |||