Recurrent benign mixed tumor and the facial nerve

In surgical treatment of patients with recurrent benign mixed tumor, the surgeon strives to preserve the facial nerve. If there is inadvertent nerve injury, immediate repair is the treatment of choice. We report two patients with recurrent benign mixed tumor in whom the facial nerve was deliberately sacrificed. Repair of the nerve was accomplished by nerve grafts. Gross and microscopic tissue examination are presented in each instance, supporting the concept of en bloc removal of tumor and nerve. Such a surgical procedure is reserved only for a highly selected group of patients.