Primary Malignant Parotid Melanoma: Searching for a Rare Entity

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.