PAROTID AREA LYMPH NODE METASTASES FROM CUTANEOUS SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA: IMPLICATIONS FOR DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PROGNOSIS

Abstract: Background. Parotid area lymph node metastasis from primary scalp and facial cutaneous cancers is a poorly recognized clinical entity partly because of the long time lapse between the index lesion and regional spread. Methods. A retrospective review of the University of Wis-consin Tumor Registry and Head and Neck Oncology Tumor Board was performed over a 10-year period from 1989 to 1999. One hundred two patients with a malignant parotid mass were identified. Of these, 20 patients were identified with parotid region squamous cell carcinoma and prior index skin cancer of the face or scalp. These patients were analyzed regarding pre-sentation, diagnostic evaluation, interval between index lesion and metastasis, treatment method, and long-term outcome. Results. Approximately 20 % of patients (20 of 102) in this series with a malignant parotid mass had presumed metastasi