Intracranial extension of salivary gland tumors

Objective: The aim of this report is to describe 3 cases of salivary gland tumors with intracranial extension associated to all extracerebral mass lesion, and to discuss the frequence, pathology and treatment of these very rare localizations Clinical material: The 3 patients were 1 woman and 2 men. aged 44, 53 and 74 years. respectively. The primary tumors were all adenocarcmoma and a malignant oncocytoma of the parotid gland and in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the submandibular gland. The location of the intradural extra-axial tumor was the middle fossa and temporal region in 2 cases and the cerebellopontine angle in 1. Surgical treatment consisted in the seemingly complete removal of 2 tumors with middle fossa localization and partial removal of the cerebellopontine angle lesion Radiotherapy was administered in all 3 cases and chemotherapy in 2. Results. 1 patient is alive and free of recurrence 32 months after removal of the intracranial tumor; 2 other patients died 28 months and 12 months postoperatively Conclusions. The intracranial extension of salivary gland tumors is a very rare event An aggressive surgical resection followed by radiotherapy is justified in cases with significant intracranial mass lesions and scarce bone and dural involvement.