Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Parotid melanoma of unknown primary

  • Original Article – Clinical Oncology
  • Published:
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Rarely, melanoma is discovered in the parotid gland without an identifiable primary site. It is not known how patients with parotid melanoma of unknown primary (PMUP) compare to those with a known primary (PMKP). As such, we describe the largest series of patients with PMUP to date and compare them to patients with PMKP.

Methods

We analyzed cases from three sources: (1) the University Hospitals Case Medical Center pathology database (n = 45), (2) the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 database (n = 33), and (3) a comprehensive literature search (n = 32).

Results

PMUP patients were predominately male and presented at a mean age of 56 years. When compared to PMKP, PMUP cases were more likely to be diagnosed in the parotid parenchyma, present with stage IV disease, and develop distant metastases during follow-up in a shorter amount of time. However, there was no difference in overall survival between patients with PMUP and PMKP presenting with stage-matched disease.

Conclusions

Overall survival is similar for stage-matched patients with parotid melanoma presenting with an unknown and known primary site.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

LNs:

Lymph nodes

CHNM:

Cutaneous head and neck melanoma

MUP:

Melanoma of unknown primary

PMUP:

Parotid melanoma of unknown primary

PMKP:

Parotid melanoma of known primary

UHCMC:

University Hospitals Case Medical Center

SEER:

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results

References

  • Bae JM, Choi YY, Kim DS et al (2015) Metastatic melanomas of unknown primary show better prognosis than those of known primary: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. J Am Acad Dermatol 72:59–70

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bahar M, Anavi Y, Abraham A et al (1990) Primary malignant melanoma in the parotid gland. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 70:627–630

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Balch CM, Gershenwald JE, Soong S et al (2009) Final version of 2009 AJCC melanoma staging and classification. J Clin Oncol 27:6199–6206

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ballo MT, Bonnen MD, Garden AS et al (2003) Adjuvant irradiation for cervical lymph node metastases from melanoma. Cancer 97:1789–1796

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Balm AJ, Kroon BB, Hilgers FJ et al (1994) Lymph node metastases in the neck and parotid gland from an unknown primary melanoma. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 19:161–165

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barbieri M, Gentile R, Cordone MP et al (2002) Primitive malignant melanoma of the parotid gland. J Oto Rhino Laryngol Relat Spec 64:297–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Bussi M, Cardarelli L, Riontino E et al (1999) Primary malignant melanoma arising in the parotid gland: case report and literature review. Tumori 85:523–525

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Conley J, Arena S (1963) Parotid gland as a focus for metastasis. Arch Surg (Chicago, IL 1960) 87:757–764

  • Cooper PH, Wanebo HJ, Hagar RW (1985) Regression in thin malignant melanoma. Microscopic diagnosis and prognostic importance. Arch Dermatol 121:1127–1131

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta T, Bowden L, Berg JW (1963) Malignant melanoma of unknown primary origin. Surg Gynecol Obstet 117:341–345

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ettl T, Irga S, Muller S et al (2014) Value of anatomic site, histology and clinicopathological parameters for prediction of lymph node metastasis and overall survival in head and neck melanomas. J Cranio-Maxillo Facial Surg 42:e252–e258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao N, Li LJ, Li Y et al (2008) Primary amelanotic malignant melanoma of the parotid gland: a case report. J Int Med Res 36:1435–1439

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geltzeiler M, Monroe M, Givi B et al (2014) Regional control of head and neck melanoma with selective neck dissection. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 140:1014–1018

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greene GW Jr, Bernier JL (1961) Primary malignant melanomas of the parotid gland. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 14:108–116

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • High WA, Stewart D, Wilbers CR et al (2005) Completely regressed primary cutaneous malignant melanoma with nodal and/or visceral metastases: a report of 5 cases and assessment of the literature and diagnostic criteria. J Am Acad Dermatol 53:89–100

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoersch B, Leiter U, Garbe C (2006) Is head and neck melanoma a distinct entity? A clinical registry-based comparative study in 5702 patients with melanoma. Br J Dermatol 155:771–777

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jennings TA, Okby NT, Schroer KR et al (1996) Parotid involvement by desmoplastic melanoma. Histopathology 29:165–170

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jorgensen MB (1953) Malignant melanoma of the parotid gland. Am J Surg 87:275–277

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kamposioras K, Pentheroudakis G, Pectasides D et al (2011) Malignant melanoma of unknown primary site. To make the long story short. A systematic review of the literature. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 78:112–126

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karpowicz MK, Shalmon B, Molberg KH et al (2011) Melanoma in a carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland: a case report and putative histogenesis. Hum Pathol 42:1355–1358

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klausner JM, Gutman M, Inbar M et al (1983) Unknown primary melanoma. J Surg Oncol 24:129–131

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lachiewicz AM, Berwick M, Wiggins CL et al (2008) Survival differences between patients with scalp or neck melanoma and those with melanoma of other sites in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Arch Dermatol 144:515–521

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laudadio P, Rinaldi Ceroni A, Cerasoli PT (1984) Metastatic malignant melanoma in the parotid gland. J Oto Rhino Laryngol Relat Spec 46:42–49

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lussier C, Klijanienko J, Vielh P (2000) Fine-needle aspiration of metastatic nonlymphomatous tumors to the major salivary glands: a clinicopathologic study of 40 cases cytologically diagnosed and histologically correlated. Cancer 90:350–356

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mesa M, Quesada JL, Pinas J (2009) Metastasis of amelanotic melanoma of unknown origin in the parotid gland. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 47:569–571

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nasri S, Namazie A, Dulguerov P et al (1994) Malignant melanoma of cervical and parotid lymph nodes with an unknown primary site. Laryngoscope 104:1194–1198

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nichols RD, Pinnock LA, Szymanowski RT (1980) Metastases to parotid nodes. Laryngoscope 90:1324–1328

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nuyens M, Schupbach J, Stauffer E et al (2006) Metastatic disease to the parotid gland. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 135:844–848

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien CJ, Petersen-Schafer K, Papadopoulos T et al (1994) Evaluation of 107 therapeutic and elective parotidectomies for cutaneous melanoma. Am J Surg 168:400–403

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien CJ, Uren RF, Thompson JF et al (1995) Prediction of potential metastatic sites in cutaneous head and neck melanoma using lymphoscintigraphy. Am J Surg 170:461–466

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien CJ, Petersen-Schaefer K, Stevens GN et al (1997) Adjuvant radiotherapy following neck dissection and parotidectomy for metastatic malignant melanoma. Head Neck 19:589–594

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien CJ, McNeil EB, McMahon JD et al (2001) Incidence of cervical node involvement in metastatic cutaneous malignancy involving the parotid gland. Head Neck 23:744–748

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pain JA, Collier DS, Conn PC (1986) Malignant melanoma of a parotid lymph gland. An unusual case. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 15:645–647

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prayson RA, Sebek BA (2000) Parotid gland malignant melanomas. Arch Pathol Lab Med 124:1780–1784

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Renaut AJ (1996) Melanoma arising within the parotid salivary gland—a case report and review of management. Eur J Surg Oncol 22:201–202

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Santini H, Byers RM, Wolf PF (1985) Melanoma metastatic to cervical and parotid nodes from an unknown primary site. Am J Surg 150:510–512

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schroeder WA Jr, Stahr WD (1998) Malignant neoplastic disease of the parotid lymph nodes. Laryngoscope 108:1514–1519

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Supriya M, Narasimhan V, Henderson MA et al (2014) Managing regional metastasis in patients with cutaneous head and neck melanoma—is selective neck dissection appropriate? Am J Otolaryngol 35:610–616

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program (http://www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*Stat Database Incidence—18 Reg Research Data + Hurricane Katrina Impacted Louisiana Cases, Nov 2013 Sub (1973–2011 varying)—Linked to County Attributes—Total U.S. 1969–2012 Counties, National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, Surveillance Systems Branch, released April 2014 (updated 5/7/2014), based on the November 2013 submission

  • Takeda Y (1997) Melanocytes in the human parotid gland. Pathol Int 47:581–583

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thom JJ, Moore EJ, Price DL et al (2014) The role of total parotidectomy for metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 140:548–554

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tsutsumida A, Yamamoto Y, Sekido M et al (2008) Suspected case of primary malignant melanoma of the parotid gland. Scand J Plastic Reconstruct Surg Hand Surg 42:105–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang BY, Lawson W, Robinson RA et al (1999) Malignant melanomas of the parotid: comparison of survival for patients with metastases from known vs unknown primary tumor sites. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 125:635–639

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Woodwards RT, Shepherd NA, Hensher R (1993) Malignant melanoma of the parotid gland: a case report and literature review. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 31:313–315

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was supported by grants from The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation and The Dermatology Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Lakeside 3100 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

    Jeffrey F. Scott, Ritva Vyas, Kord Honda, Kevin D. Cooper & Meg R. Gerstenblith

  2. Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Case Western Reserve University, and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Cheryl L. Thompson

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, Case Western Reserve University, and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Chad Zender, Rod Rezaee & Pierre Lavertu

  4. Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Henry Koon

Authors
  1. Jeffrey F. Scott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cheryl L. Thompson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ritva Vyas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kord Honda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chad Zender
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Rod Rezaee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Pierre Lavertu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Henry Koon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Kevin D. Cooper
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Meg R. Gerstenblith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey F. Scott.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Jeffrey F. Scott, Cheryl L. Thompson, Ritva Vyas, Kord Honda, Chad Zender, Pierre Lavertu, Henry Koon, and Kevin D. Cooper declare that they have no conflict of interest. Rod Rezaee is a speaker for Biomet. Meg R. Gerstenblith receives funding from The Dermatology Foundation and The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed consent

The Institutional Review Board at University Hospitals Case Medical Center approved this study and waived the requirement for informed consent given the nature of the data collection.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Scott, J.F., Thompson, C.L., Vyas, R. et al. Parotid melanoma of unknown primary. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 142, 1529–1537 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-016-2156-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-016-2156-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation