Abstract
Small-cell parotid gland carcinoma is rare, and it had been considered that the prognosis in small-cell salivary gland carcinoma was better than in other parts of the head and neck. We report a case of small-cell parotid gland carcinoma. An 81-years-old man with a right parotid gland mass and partial facial palsy visited our hospital. Imaging studies showed a parotid tumor 36 mm in diameter. Fine-needle aspiration cytology suggested poorly differentiated carcinoma. The man also had a gluteal basal cell carcinoma and upper right lung squamous cell carcinoma. Pathological diagnosis following total right parotidectomy was small-cell carcinoma lesions recurred in cervical and mediastinal lymph nodes and liver caused. His general condition gradually deteriorate, and he died 6 months after the operation. The tumor in our case was extremely aggressive and highly and swiftly metastatic, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis and adequate therapy in managing small-cell parotid gland carcinoma.
