Table 1.

T stage of the major salivary glands

T1	Tumor 2 cm or less in greatest dimension without extraparenchymal extension
T2	Tumor more than 2 cm but not more than 4 cm in greatest dimension without extraparenchymal extension
T3	Tumor more than 4 cm and/or tumor having extraparenchymal extension
T4a	Tumor invades skin, mandible, ear canal, or facial nerve
T4b	Tumor invades base of skull, pterygoid plates, or encases carotid artery

TNM classification (UICC 2002)

Extraparenchymal extension is clinical or macroscopic evidence of invasion of soft tissues or nerve, except these listed under T4a and T4b. Microscopic evidence alone does not constitute extraparenchymal extension for classification purposes