ecancermedicalscience

Case Report

The parotid gland, an unusual site of colorectal cancer metastasis

15 Jun 2023
Paula Isabel G Franco, Anna Pascual-Panganiban

Colorectal cancer commonly metastasises to the liver, peritoneum and lungs. With disseminated disease, it can spread to more unusual sites. Parotid gland metastasis usually originates from head and neck malignancies. We present a case of stage IV sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma with metastases to the left parotid. The patient was a 53-year-old Filipino man diagnosed with stage IV sigmoid adenocarcinoma with liver metastases in June 2021. He underwent laparoscopic sigmoidectomy and received eight cycles of chemotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin with partial response of his liver lesions. Capecitabine monotherapy was then maintained. On September 2022, he experienced persistent left facial pain, with no relief after dental tooth extraction and antibiotics. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a 5 × 7 × 6 cm inhomogenous mass in the left parotid with destruction of the mandible. A fine needle biopsy was consistent with a high-grade carcinoma. After multidisciplinary discussions, a repeat core needle biopsy was deemed necessary to proceed with immunohistochemistry. With strong positivity for cytokeratin 20 (CK20), carcinoembryonic antigen, special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 and CAM 5.2, and weak positivity for CK7, the parotid mass was diagnosed as metastatic adenocarcinoma from the colon. He then received palliative radiation to the parotid mass for pain control. A gastrostomy tube was also inserted for nutritional support. Treatment with next-line chemotherapy (FOLFIRI regimen) was planned. Unfortunately, he contracted COVID-19 pneumonia and succumbed to respiratory failure. Pursuing the histologic diagnosis of this uncommon area of metastasis was necessary for appropriate treatment planning. Fostering multidisciplinary collaboration throughout the complex aspects of cancer care requires patient advocacy, leadership and effective communication. For our patient, it was essential to coordinate with surgery and pathology to maximise the diagnostic yield of a repeat biopsy while minimising complications and treatment delays.

Related Articles

Renata D’Alpino Peixoto, Gabriel Prolla, Anelisa Kruschewsky Coutinho, Julia Andrade de Oliveira, Virgilio Souza e Silva, Rachel Riechelmann, Juliana Florinda de Mendonça Rego, Victor Hugo Fonseca de Jesus, Rui Fernando Weschenfelder
Erick R Vásquez-Jaico, Edgar Fermín Yan-Quiroz, Nicol Bonilla-Feria, Mery Nancy Villarreal Gonzalez, Luis Salas Guzmán, Gustavo Adolfo Vásquez-Tirado, Victor Serna-Alarcon
Chalothorn Wannaphut, Phuuwadith Wattanachayakul, Sakditad Saowapa, Ben Ponvilawan, Manasawee Tanariyakul, Jakrin Kewcharoen, Pitchaporn Yingchoncharoen, Thanathip Suenghataiphorn, Noppawit Aiumtrakul, Jared Acoba
Fatuma Affey, Dabo Galgalo Halake, Grace Muira Wainaina, Hussein Ali Osman, James G Ndukui, Houda Abdourahman, Omar Abdihamid
José Richard Tenazoa-Villalobos, Edgar Fermín Yan-Quiroz, Augusto Ordoñez-Chinguel, Sofia Leonor Prado-Cucho, Adesman Isac Miranda-Narro, Vladimir Villoslada-Terrones
Tinashe Adrian Mazhindu, Ntokozo Ndlovu, Margaret Borok, Vincent Aketch Nyangwara, Pageneck Chikondowa, Marie Hidjo Madeleine, Collen Masimirembwa, Onesai Chihaka, Edith Matsikidze, Charley Jang, Kevin Grimes