Abstract

Malignant secondary parotid neoplasms are uncommon. Among 545 malignant parotid tumors, we found 52 (9%) that did not arise primarily in the parotid gland. Lymphomas or tumors of hematopoietic origin were excluded from this study. All patients had a parotid mass (two bilateral), one third of which were painful; 20% had facial nerve weakness. Fifty-four surgical procedures were performed on 51 patients. Radical neck dissection was done for deeply invasive or highly malignant tumors. Adjunctive radiotherapy was administered postoperatively for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, while chemotherapy was given for lung and breast carcinoma and melanoma. Follow-up, obtained in 51 of 52 patients, averaged five years.