[Giant pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland]

The authors describe four cases of giant pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland with the diameter greater then 15 cm in patients treated in the ENT Department, Medical University of Gdańsk in years 1989-2002. Three of the patients were treated surgically--parotidectomy was performed, in first case removing tumor of 28 cm in diameter and 3.2 kg, in second case 15 cm and 0.7 kg and in third case 18 cm and 1.3 kg. The forth patient was disqualified from the surgical treatment because of the metastases to the lungs from the giant malignant pleomorphic adenoma involving half of the head. The authors presented opinions on the diagnostic and therapeutic methods in that disease and also present case reports from Poland and other countries.