Conservative parotidectomy in infancy and childhood

The indication for operations of benign tumours of the salivary glands in infancy and childhood is taken with great caution and is only partially recommended as the therapy of choice. This applies especially to hemangiomas, since spontaneous retrogression has been observed and there is the danger of damage to the facial nerve during surgery. Knowing unsatisfactory late cases of hemangiomas the author recommends conservative parotidectomy in cases of fast-growing hemangiomas. The anatomic structures in infancy, as well as the lack of pneumatisation of the mastoid process and the fragility of the cartilagineous auditory meatus should be taken into consideration during surgical exploration. The atypical course of the facial nerve in large tumours of the parotid gland is pointed out.