Intracranial extension of salivary gland tumors.
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.
Maiuri
F
F
Department of Neurological Sciences, Neurosurgical Clinic, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. frmaiuri@yahoo.it
Gangemi
M
M
Giamundo
A
A
Mariniello
G
G
Colella
A
A
Vergara
P
P
Del Basso De Caro
M L
ML
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