A case of myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland

Abstract

We report a case of myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland. The patient was a 60 year old male. Around July 2008, the patient noticed a left neck tumor and since it increased in size, he consulted a local doctor on October 16, 2008, and was referred to our hospital for examination. The mobility of the left neck tumor was bad and with pain, skin reddish. Swelling of the neck lymph nodes in relation to the tumor was noted. The neck tumor was identified as parotid gland carcinoma T4aN2bM0. On November 17, we performed a left salivary gland partial resection and left neck dissection under general anesthesia. The pathological examination diagnosed a myoepithelial carcinoma (pT4a, ly3, v3, pn3, margin +, pN2b). Post-operative radiation therapy of 50 Gy was performed. On February 2009, the patient lost right eye movement (palsy of the abducent nerve). CT and MRI showed metastasis of the cavernous sinus, but no metastasis of the left parotid region and left neck. This suggested a possible beneficial effect of the radiation therapy for the myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland.