Abstract: Clinical Analysis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma with Parotid Lymph Node MetastasisLongqiuWU1, Jingao LI2, Xinqian YE2, Lan LIU3, SuoyuWANG3Correspondence to: Jingao LI, E-mail: lijingao@hotmail.com1Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical College, Ganzhou 341000, China2Department of Radiation Oncology, Jiangxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Nanchang 330029, China3Department of Medical Imaging, Jiangxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Nanchang 330029, ChinaAbstract Objective: To explore the incidence and pattern of parotid lymph node metastasis from nasopharyngeal carcinoma,and to analyze the possible mechanisms and prognosis. Methods: Data of 1,004 patients with pathologically confirmed nasopharyngealcarcinoma were retrospectively collected. The MRI images were reviewed, and the imaging characteristics of those with parotid metas-tasis were analyzed. The clinical outcomes were also evaluated. Results: Of the 1,004 patients, 15 presented with parotid lesions, and14 were eventually diagnosed with parotid metastasis, and the incidence rate was 1.4 %. Of the metastatic parotid lymph nodes, 82 %were located in the superficial lobe. Ninety-three percent of the patients had advanced disease, 43% had N3 disease, 64% had extranodalspread of cervical node metastasis, 7 patients had Ⅱa or Ⅱb extranodal spread, and 79 % had metastasis that extended to the parapha-ryngeal space. Thirty-six percent received neck care before anti-cancer therapy. After a median follow-up of 10.5 months, 6 cases haddistant metastasis and 2 of them died. Conclusion: In this study, the incidence of parotid lymph node metastasis from nasopharyngealcarcinoma was 1.4 %. Most of the metastases were in the superficial lobe. The possible factors involving metastasis include necknode > 6 cm,Ⅱa and Ⅱb extranodal spread, parapharyngeal space occupied by tumor, and previous intervention of the neck. The prog-nosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with parotid node metastasis remains poor.Keywords Nasopharyngeal neoplasm; Parotid gland; Lymph nodes; Metastasis; Analysis