[Small-cell carcinoma of the parotid gland. Apropos of a case].

One case of primary small cell carcinoma of the left parotid gland is reported. A total parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation and left functional neck dissection was performed, with postoperative radiotherapy to the surgical area. A lymph node metastases appears 4 months later, and it needs radical neck dissection followed by chemotherapy. 18 months following initial surgery, our patient is free of disease. The ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies does not suggest an origin neuroendocrine of the carcinoma. This tumor appears to have a better prognosis than small cell carcinoma of the lung, which it resembles histologically.