Primary Malignant Parotid Melanoma: Searching for a Rare Entity

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this paper is to establish a correct approach to the diagnosis of a primary malignant melanoma of the parotid gland. Methods: We present a case of a patient with a painless mass situated in the left parotid region after an initial cytological and radiological study suggesting a Warthin tumor whose treatment involved a total parotidectomy with a facial nerve reconstruction. Results: The histopathological result showed a malignant melanoma that after various studies and evaluations showed no other primary origin different from the parotid gland itself. Conclusions: Salivary gland melanomas are relatively rare entities that when being of a primary origin and localized in the parotid gland become even more uncommon. Upon a melanoma found in the parotid gland, the first suspicion should be a metastatic origin, being the most common sites the oral cavity and the skin from the head and neck region.

Malignant Melanoma Presenting as a Parotid Mass in a Middle-aged Woman with Metastasis to the Breast

“…Some of these criteria were predominant intra-parotid mass, undistinguishable lymph node tissue, no evidence of ocular, dermal, nasopharyngeal, oral, esophageal, and a genital malignant melanoma or malignant melanoma in other sites. In other words, there is no evidence of previous malignant melanoma or progressive pigmented lesion (7). In our case, no evidence of pigmented or amelanotic lesion suggestive of the primary extra-parotid tumor was detected at the time of diagnosis.…”

Primary malignant melanoma of the parotid gland, a rare case arising from a duct: a case report and literature review

“…Therefore, most of them were not clearly distinguished from benign salivary gland tumors such as pleomorphic adenoma, making it difficult to detect MM before biopsy. Although the patient number is small, hints of diagnosis were obtained from iso to high T1 signal in cases where MR was performed ( 10 , 17 ), including this case. Hyperintense T1 signal in the MM indicated the paramagnetic effect of melanin and its accompanying hemorrhage ( 20 ).…”