title: Intracranial extension of salivary gland tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this report is to describe 3 cases of salivary gland tumors with intracranial extension associated to an extracerebral mass lesion, and to discuss the frequence, pathology and treatment of these very rare localizations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 3 patients were 1 woman and 2 men, aged 44, 53 and 74 years, respectively. The primary tumors were an adenocarcinoma and a malignant oncocytoma of the parotid gland and an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the submandibular gland. The location of the intradural extra-axial tumor was the middle fossa and temporal region in 2 cases and the cerebellopontine angle in 1. Surgical treatment consisted in the seemingly complete removal of 2 tumors with middle fossa localization and partial removal of the cerebellopontine angle lesion. Radiotherapy was administered in all 3 cases and chemotherapy in 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1 patient is alive and free of recurrence 32 months after removal of the intracranial tumor; 2 other patients died 28 months and 12 months postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intracranial extension of salivary gland tumors is a very rare event. An aggressive surgical resection followed by radiotherapy is justified in cases with significant intracranial mass lesions and scarce bone and dural involvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, Neurosurgical Clinic, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. frmaiuri@yahoo.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maiuri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gangemi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giamundo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mariniello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colella
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vergara
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Del Basso De Caro
mesh_terms: D018249:Adenoma, Oxyphilic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome