title: Malignant melanoma of the parotid gland.
abstract: We report a case which demonstrates pitfalls in the management of a parotid gland mass and highlights behaviour of malignant melanoma that is not widely appreciated. The danger of assuming a benign histological diagnosis of such a mass and the subsequent delay of definitive surgery is demonstrated. Metastases within the parotid gland are not uncommon, melanoma being one of the commonest sources. A search should always be made for a primary tumour in the head, neck and chest. This can be made exceptionally difficult by the uncommon phenomenon of spontaneous regression of the primary melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, Stoke on Trent.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jayaramachandran
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery