Parotid area lymph node metastases from carcinoma of the skin

From January 1966 through April 1980, 38 patients with squamous cell carcinoma and one patient with basal cell carcinoma of the skin with lymphatic metastases to the parotid area were treated with curative intent at the University of Florida. Fourteen were initially treated with surgery, nine inoperable patients were treated primarily with radiation therapy, and 16 were treated with planned combined therapy, i.e., superficial or total parotidectomies with preoperative or postoperative radiation therapy. The ultimate parotid area control rate for the group treated with radiation alone was 50%; there were no failures at doses above 6500 rad. The parotid area control rate was 88% in the combined-treatment group with no failures when the surgical margins of resection were free; however, when gross residual disease was left behind, only 4 of 6 lesions were controlled. In the surgery-alone group, the ultimate parotid area and neck control rate was only 15%. The major sequela from combined therapy was sacrifice of the seventh nerve at surgery. Treatment methods are discussed.