Parotid gland and cerebellum metastasis of lung cancer: a case report

Parotid gland and cerebellum metastasis in lung cancer are extremely rare; very few cases have been reported. Here we present a case of a 56-year-old Chinese female patient who presented with a swelling in the right parotid gland. We diagnosed metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma from advanced lung cancer. The patient received 1 cycle nimustine (100 mg/m2 IV Day 1) and nedaplatin (80 mg/m2 IV Day 1). After the first course of chemotherapy, the parotid swelling subsided and local pain relief. Currently she remains under follow-up. Although metastasis to the parotid gland from any distant primary site is quite unusual and extremely rare, a potential metastasis of lung cancer should not be ignored in the diagnosis of parotid tumor. Before any therapeutic routine examination, such as a chest X-ray, lung computational tomography and brain magnetic resonance imaging may play an important role in differential diagnosis. Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy is a very safe and effective tool in cases of parotid swelling. Although the management of the metastatic tumor to the parotid gland was controversial, the combination chemotherapy with platinum-based models has a certain effect.