Metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma to the parotid lymph nodes

Parotid lymph node (PLN) metastasis greatly worsens the prognosis of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and poses a great challenge for further treatment of OSCC. The clinicopathological characteristics and treatment strategies for PLN metastasis from OSCC need to be comprehensively elucidated. A retrospective review of OSCC patients who experienced postoperative PLN metastasis in our department between 2000 and 2018 was performed in this study. A total of 47 OSCC patients with postoperative PLN metastasis were identified. PLN with metastasis were divided into three groups based on the location: parotid tail (PLN-t), superficial lobe (PLN-sl), and deep lobe (PLN-dl). Most of the patients experienced PLN metastasis within less than 12 months after the primary surgery for OSCC. Comparatively, patients with PLN-sl metastasis were more prone to have infiltration of the facial nerve. The tongue and buccal mucosa were the most frequent primary sites associated with PLN metastasis from OSCC. PLNs in the parotid tail were most commonly affected by the metastasized OSCC. Consequently, we recommend a series of strategies for the prevention and treatment of PLN metastasis for OSCC patients. In conclusion, PLNs should not be overlooked during preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow-up examinations for OSCC patients.