Metastases to parotid gland from cancers of the upper airway and digestive tract

Forty-four cases of parotid metastases were diagnosed and treated in the period 1968-1994. In 10 patients (23%), the primary tumour was sited in the mucosal layer of the upper airway or digestive tract: oropharynx (n = 3), larynx (n = 3), nasopharynx (n = 2), hypopharynx (n = 1) and the maxillary sinus (n = 1). Histologically, the primary tumour was squamous cell carcinoma in 9 cases and adenocarcinoma in one. One patient received surgical treatment only, two patients surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, one radiotherapy only, four chemotherapy acid two symptomatic treatment only. Only one patient is alive, disease-free, 5 years after treatment. The other patients died: six within 1 year, two within 2 years and one within 3 years of diagnosis.