Malignant melanoma is a disease arising from the melanocytes and having a tendency of distant metastasis even in the early stage. Unfortunately, the effective treatment is not established and the prognosis is unfavorable in most cases. This paper described a rare case of malignant melanoma originating from the parotid gland. The patient, a 76-year-old man, was referred to our clinic with the chief complaint of preauricular region swelling.
A diagnosis of parotitis suppurativa was based on clinicopathological findings. The treatment was initially effective, but thereafter the parotid gland increased gradually and therefore parotidectomy was performed one year and 4 months after the initial diagosis. At this point the pathological diagnosis of malignant melanoma was established. Although the patient was treated with OK-432, BCG and N-CWS and temporarily had a favorable response, finally he died of renal insufficiency complication after 2 years and 4 months. The autopsy was made and the metastases in various parts of the body was especially reported here.
