[Parotid metastases of malignant tumors of the head]

Tumors of the head as well as other distant tumors may metastasize to the lymph nodes of the parotid gland. Metastases from head malignancies are much more frequent than those arising in distant organs. The authors report their experience in three cases of parotid lymph nodal metastases from head neoplasms: nasal septum carcinoma, left external auditory canal carcinoma and right suborbital skin melanoma. In two cases nodal metastases appeared after the treatment of the primary malignant tumor; in one case metastases were simultaneous to it. All patients were treated surgically (total parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation) and in two cases a submaxillary and functional neck dissection was carried out. Only one patient is alive and disease-free at three years from operation. The authors believe that total parotidectomy performed for nodal metastases involving the parotid gland is to be considered a true "parotid dissection", either "curative" or "prophylactic", depending on whether it is carried out when lymph nodes are palpable or not.