Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland with ovarian and peritoneal metastasis

Metastatic ovarian carcinoma generally arises from the gastrointestinal tract. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the salivary gland. It typically disseminates to the regional lymph nodes and surrounding soft tissues. Distant metastasis of the parotid mucoepidermoid carcinoma is very rare, and it usually occurs to the lungs, bones and liver. A 28-year-old woman with a history of high grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland was admitted with ascites and bilateral ovarian masses. Breast examination, endoscopic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract, total bone scintigraphy, abdominopelvic and chest tomography and cytological analysis of the ascites did not detect a primary malignancy. Nevertheless, pathological examination of the ovaries revealed a metastasis from the mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Metastatic ovarian tumors usually originate from the gastrointestinal tract. Other sources of tumor metastasis should also be considered.