Residual and recurrent parotid gland neoplasm after surgical excision

Ten patients who presented with residual or recurrent parotid gland neoplasm after elective curative surgical excision between January 1992 to December 1999 were studied. It aimed at finding the contributory factors responsible for the persistence or recurrence of the tumour after surgical excision. The 10 patients comprised of four males and six females. Their ages ranged from 33 to 73 years with a mean of 52 years. Seven were of malignant histologic cell types while three were benign. Eight patients were treated with secondary parotidectomy while two received combination chemotherapy. In five patients, both the superficial and deep lobes of the parotid gland were found during secondary parotidectomy. This confirms that the extent of the initial surgery was less than superficial parotidectomy. This confirms that the extent of the initial surgery was less than superficial parotidectomy. Four patients were later referred to radiotherapy centers for further treatment It is concluded that most recurrent parotid neoplasm is a result of inadequate primary surgical excision, and best results are obtained by doing a minimum of superficial parotidectomy in the surgical treatment of parotid gland neoplasms.