Epidermoid carcinoma involving the parotid gland and orbital region: case report of a rare entity

Epidermoid carcinoma (also known as squamous cell carcinoma) of the parotid gland is more prevalent among the elderly, as are other head and neck tumors. In most cases it is observed either as a nodal metastasis of a primary tumor that drains into the parotid area or as a direct extension of a tumor that has originated in the upper dermis. Primary epidermoid carcinomas arising directly from the parotid gland are extremely rare. Similarly, secondary invasion of the orbital region by a neighboring tumor is more common than primary epidermoid carcinoma of the orbit, which is also rare. In this article, we discuss the diagnosis and treatment of a rare case of epidermoid carcinoma simultaneously invading the parotid gland and the orbit.