AUTHOR=Gontarz Michał , Urbańska Marta , Bargiel Jakub , Gąsiorowski Krzysztof , Marecik Tomasz , Wyszyńska-Pawelec Grażyna 

TITLE=Surgical management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to the parotid gland

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 15 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1579680

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2025.1579680

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=The parotid gland includes lymph nodes that may contain metastasis from the head and neck region as well as distant metastasis or metastasis from carcinoma/melanoma of an unknown primary (CUP/MUP). This study aimed to review the current literature to evaluate the role of surgical management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). A narrative review of the English language literature available in the PubMed and Embase databases from January 2010 to December 2024 was conducted to identify treatment methods and follow-up data for HNSCC metastatic to the parotid gland. This study provides a detailed overview of the histological and diagnostic imaging characteristics as well as the surgical and non-surgical procedures employed in the management of HNSCC metastases to the parotid gland. Furthermore, the management of CUP is outlined. The extent of the parotidectomy and concomitant neck dissection remains a topic of ongoing debate. The flow chart presented in this study may assist in decision-making regarding surgical treatment. Given that locoregional recurrence is the primary cause of mortality in HNSCC, surgical treatment is likely to be the most effective means of achieving a favorable outcome.