Squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland

Squamous cell carcinoma involving the parotid gland is an aggressive and rapidly advancing lesion which if not recognized and treated early will result in a high morbidity and mortality. We reviewed 30 patients with squamous cell carcinoma involving the parotid gland. Twenty-four patients had had previous epidermoid skin lesions in an area known to drain to the parotid gland and three resulted from direct extension into the gland from an overlying skin carcinoma, whereas only three were primary lesions of the gland. Patients who presented with involvement of the gland more than 4 months after excision of the skin lesion had a poor prognosis. Patients with epidermoid skin cancer in areas with a propensity to secondarily involve the parotid gland must be closely followed after treatment of the primary skin lesion.