PRIMARY MALIGNANT MELANOMA OF THE PAROTID GLAND, A RARE ENTITY: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

The prevalence of primary malignant tumors of the salivary gland is 1 per 100,000 people. Most salivary gland tumors originate in the parotid gland (80%), of which 25% are malignant. Adenoid cystic carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma and acinar duct carcinoma are among the most common types of salivary gland cancer [1]. Around 25% of parotid tumors are metastatic, originating mainly in the head and neck region. The main metastatic tumors of the parotid gland are squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma [2]. Parotid melanoma is generally secondary to a primary location on the skin of the head and neck. When its primary site cannot be found, we speak of primary melanoma of the parotid gland, an even rarer entity. Here, we report the case of a primary malignant melanoma of parotid gland in a 66-year-old male subject.