A Case of Direct Invasion of the Parotid Gland by Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

ABSTRACT

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is the second-most common skin cancer and represents 20% of all skin cancers. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma often spreads to the parotid gland through lymph nodes, but, direct invasion of an adjacent organ may also occur. We present the case of 78-year-old man with ulcerated mass on the right infra-auricular area. The histopathologic finding was squamous cell carcinoma. There was no evidence of distant metastasis, but the mass was found to invade the superficial lobe of the right parotid gland. The mass was widely excised and superficial parotidectomy was performed while preserving the facial nerve. The defect was covered by primary closure. Postoperative radiotherapy was performed. At 20 months after surgery, our patient had no facial palsy, local recurrence, or metastasis. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma involving the parotid gland is an aggressive, rapidly advancing lesion, which if not recognized and treated early will result in high morbidity and mortality. Squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland has shown that patients who receive adjuvant radiotherapy have a lower recurrence rate and a higher survival rate than patients treated with surgery alone. The role of elective neck dissection remains controversial.