Metastasis from a sublingual salivary gland malignancy is most likely to first spread to which site?

Correct answer: C. Bone

• A. Lung metastasis is also common for salivary gland malignancies, especially adenoid cystic carcinoma. Both bone and lung are valid sites.
• B. Breast tissue does not receive metastases from salivary gland tumors under normal circumstances.
• C. Correct. Salivary gland malignancies (and oral cavity cancers in general) can metastasize to bone. The sublingual gland, when malignant, most commonly presents as adenoid cystic carcinoma, which has a particular propensity for perineural spread and distant metastasis to lung and bone.
• D. Prostate metastases typically originate from prostate cancer spreading elsewhere, not as a destination from salivary tumors.