[Metastasis to the parotid gland].

INTRODUCTION

Metastatic disease in the parotid gland has been observed and reported in the literature, and its treatment is controversial.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We review 48 patients with parotid tumors that underwent surgery during 1997-2004. The clinical and histogical features are reviewed.

RESULTS

Among these 48, there were 12 cases of metastatic tumors to the parotid (25%). The pathohistological analysis of these tumors revealed that 8 were epidermoid carcinoma (66%), 1 patient was a melanoma (8%), 2 lymphomas below clavicules (16%) and 1 patient with a metastasis of a primary renal cancer. All patients underwent parotidectomy and 10 also cervical neck dissection (6 cases showed cervical metastases). 8 patients received radiotherapy after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study parotid metastases are relatively common in patients submitted for parotid surgery. Often the site of origin of the primary tumor is the facial skin, and the primary tumors most commonly are melanomas or squamous-cell carcinomas, but it is possible distant primary tumors below clavicules.