Background: The aim of the study was the characterization of patients with metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma involving the parotid gland.
Patients and methods: The clinical, radiological and pathological tumor data of 16 patients with parotid metastasis of a previously treated squamous cell carcinoma of the skin were analyzed retrospectively.
Results: Patients over 70 years of age with a primary skin cancer of at least 1.5 centimeter in diameter were defined as the high risk group for development of regional metastasis involving the parotid gland. The time interval between therapy of the skin cancer and detection of the metastatic involvement of the parotid gland was 9.8 (2-24) months on average. The average maximal diameter of the parotid metastasis was 3.2 (1.5-4.9) centimeter at diagnosis. Metastatic infiltration of cervical lymph nodes could be shown in 9 patients and in 2 patients pulmonary metastases were detected. The average survival after parotid metastasis was 11.7 (3-31) months.
Conclusion: The early diagnosis and therapy of locoregional metastasis from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp have a high prognostic value. High-risk patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma should be followed up sonographically in narrow intervals for detection of parotid and cervical lymph node metastasis.