Metastatic Cancer to the Parotid

In many regions of the world, the most common type of parotid malignancy is metastatic malignancy. Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and metastatic melanoma are the most common pathologies that metastasize to the parotid gland and cervical lymph nodes. Other more rare metastatic malignancies from cutaneous primary sites include Merkel cell carcinoma, pleomorphic sarcoma (previously called malignant fibrous histiocytoma) and metastatic basal cell carcinoma. Systemic metastases can also occur from tumors such as renal cell carcinoma. This review will focus on the management of the two most common causes of parotid malignancy.