Epithelioid sarcoma of the parotid region

Abstract

Epithelioid sarcoma has been described in 1970 by Enzinger as a separate tumor entity. It is a rare soft-tissue tumor mostly found in the distal extremities in young adults. The head and neck region is only very infrequently affected. We report the rare case of a manifestation of an epithelioid sarcoma in the area of the right parotid gland in a 72-year-old patient. Only two more cases with a similar tumor entity and location have been described in the international literature. The patient underwent total parotidectomy, radical neck dissection, and postoperative radiotherapy two years ago and has been free of recurrence since then. Epithelioid sarcomas of the head and neck are very rare tumors. They are treated by radical local tumor removal, neck dissection, and postoperative radiotherapy. Prolonged postoperative follow-up is necessary since recurrences can occur after up to more than 15 years.