[Secondary malignant tumors of the parotid area].

Secondary malignant tumors of the parotid gland are uncommon. They arise from primary tumors located in the head and neck or from distant primary tumors. The formers are dominated by squamous cell carcinomas and melanomas, the latters by kidney and bronchic cancers. Distinction between malignant primary tumors and metastasis of other primary tumors to the parotid gland is very important to appreciate, because the result of this will change therapeutic procedure and the evaluation of prognosis. The rarity of this metastatic site is illustrated by this series of 9 cases. These observations raised discussion about the site of the primary tumor, the localization in the parenchyma or in the lymph nodes, and the histological differential diagnosis.