More than 75% of parotid metastases represent a secondary localization in the parotid region lymph nodes of malignancies arising from the skin of the head. Among 94 parotidectomies performed at the Otolaryngologic Clinic of the University of Brescia in the years 1980-1987, 21 were primary malignant growths and of these 5 (23.8%) proved to be intraparotid lymph node metastases of previously resected cutaneous tumors of the face (1 melanoma and 4 squamous cell carcinomas). Parotid metastases were treated by lateral (3 cases) or total parotidectomy (2 cases) with preservation of the facial nerve; in 4 cases a homolateral neck dissection of the functional type was performed in the same session (N+ in 1 case only). Three out of four patients with squamous cell carcinoma were subsequently submitted to Co60 radiation therapy. Four patients died 1 to 22 months after the treatment: in three, death was due to a local recurrence or a distant metastasis; in 1 case to osteoradionecrosis with no signs of relapse of the tumor. One patient only treated with total parotidectomy, functional neck dissection (N-) and postoperative radiation therapy is still alive and free of disease 18 months after surgery.