Metastatic parotid gland malignancy: A preliminary study in an eastern Chinese population

Ading He; Huimin Lei; Huasheng Li; Xing Li; Yunbo Yang; Yupu Wang; Huishan Ong; Xiaomei Zhao; Min Ruan; Nannan Han

doi:10.1016/j.jormas.2022.10.008

Metastatic parotid gland malignancy: A preliminary study in an eastern Chinese population

J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2023 Apr;124(2):101309. doi: 10.1016/j.jormas.2022.10.008. Epub 2022 Oct 15.

Authors

Ading He¹, Huimin Lei¹, Huasheng Li², Xing Li², Yunbo Yang¹, Yupu Wang², Huishan Ong², Xiaomei Zhao³, Min Ruan⁴, Nannan Han⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Stomatology, Weifang Medical University. Weifang 261053, Shandong Province, China.
² Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, National center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China.
³ Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, National center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China.. Electronic address: Zhxm58327107@126.com.
⁴ Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, National center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China.. Electronic address: doctorruanmin@sjtu.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, National center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China.. Electronic address: hannannan111@126.com.

PMID: 36252929
DOI: 10.1016/j.jormas.2022.10.008

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the incidence and clinicopathological patterns of metastatic carcinoma of the parotid gland.

Method: Ninety patients with parotid gland metastases admitted to our hospital between January 2003 and December 2018 were included in this study. Clinical and pathological data were obtained from the medical records and follow-ups. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess overall survival of patients.

Results: Among the 90 patients, parotid gland metastases originated from the head and neck in 86 (95.6%), from non-head and neck in 4 (4.4%), from the oral cavity in 30(33.3%), and from the eyelid in 21 (23.3%). Among the 85 cases with parotid gland lymph node metastasis, 45 (52.9%) were diagnosed with extra-lymph node metastasis. The capsule of the parotid lymph nodes was thinner than that of the cervical lymph nodes (P < 0.05). Hematogenous metastases to the parotid gland (only five cases) were rare, mainly from the non-head and neck malignancies. Patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and meibomian adenocarcinoma with parotid metastatic disease had poorer overall survival (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Eastern China population analysis showed that parotid gland metastases usually arise from oral squamous cell carcinoma and eyelid, but rarely from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Most cases metastasize to the parotid lymph nodes via the lymphatic system and are prone to extranodal extension with little or no facial nerve involvement. These findings have important implications for the treatment of metastatic parotid malignancies.

Keywords: Cancer; Gland malignancy; Parotid gland; Tumor metastasis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

East Asian People
Humans
Lymphatic Metastasis
Mouth Neoplasms* / pathology
Parotid Gland / pathology
Parotid Neoplasms* / epidemiology
Parotid Neoplasms* / secondary
Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck* / pathology