Squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland.
BACKGROUND
Our objective was to evaluate the outcome of patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the parotid gland.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective chart review of the tumor registry from 1982 through 2003 at a tertiary referral medical center. Patients with SCC of the parotid gland were identified and followed for a minimum of 2 years after therapy.


RESULTS
SCC involving the parotid was identified in 66 patients. The tumor was a metastasis from a known primary site in 41 patients (62%). In 16 patients (24%), no other primary site was identified, and the tumor may have originated in the parotid gland. Nine patients (14%) were undetermined. Therapy frequently included surgery. The integrity of the facial nerve was preserved in 92% of surgical patients. Only eight patients initially had clinical evidence of cervical metastasis; however, cervical metastasis was identified in 25 patients (44%), changing the course of therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
SCC of the parotid gland was metastatic from a known primary tumor in more than half of the patients. The most common site of the primary tumor was a cutaneous malignancy of the head and neck. The high incidence of cervical lymph node involvement underscores the diagnostic and therapeutic importance of neck dissection with parotidectomy.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Eye & Ear Institute, 203 Lothrop Street, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Yu-Lan Mary
YL
Ying
Jonas T
JT
Johnson
Eugene N
EN
Myers
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies