Wide excision of accessory parotid gland with anterior approach

Accessory parotid gland tissue has been described as salivary tissue adjacent to the Stensen duct that is distinctly separate from the main body of the parotid gland. Of all parotid gland tumors, 1% to 8% arise from the accessory parotid gland. Little is known about the accessory parotid gland, and it is seldom mentioned in the literature. Between 1999 and 2010, we have treated and followed 8 patients with tumors of the accessory parotid gland. There were 5 males and 3 females with a mean age of 35 years. They all presented with an asymptomatic cheek mass, and 4 of them underwent fine-needle aspiration. Ultrasound or computed tomographic scan was used in all patients. All the patients underwent surgical intervention with standard parotidectomy incision and anterior extension. The mean follow-up time was 44 months (range, 6-120 months). Seven patients had benign disease. Four cases were pleomorphic adenoma, and the remaining 3 benign cases were parotid cyst, basal cell adenoma, and hemangioma. Only 1 patient had a malignant tumor that was a lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma. In 7 cases, wide excision (excision of mass and accessory lobe of the parotid gland) was done because of the intra-accessory parotid gland lesion. One patient had concomitant superficial parotidectomy because the tumor was located very close to and has involved the parotid gland proper. There was no serious postoperative complication and recurrence. Prudent preoperative diagnostic evaluation and meticulous surgical approach are the keys to successful management of midcheek lesions. A wide excision of the accessory lobe of the parotid gland can be a definitive surgery in case of solitary tumor with an intact parotid fascia, and wide excision with anterior approach through a standard parotidectomy incision is preferred to a direct incision over the mass.