Synchronous bilateral pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland

Bilateral pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland are extremely rare, accounting for less than 0.2% of all parotid gland tumors. We present a rare case of a patient with synchronous bilateral pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland. A 27-year-old woman presented with a 5-month history of a slowly-growing, painless swelling of the right parotid gland. After a thorough bilateral parotid examination and magnetic resonance imaging evaluation, bilateral tumors of the parotid gland were found. The patient underwent surgical excision of the bilateral tumors in one surgical setting. Histopathological examination showed that both tumors were pleomorphic adenomas. The patient has been followed for 24 months without recurrence of tumors. Careful preoperative examination and radiological evaluation of bilateral parotid glands might be necessary for the early diagnosis of synchronous bilateral tumors. We suggest that treatment be individualized depending on the sizes and locations of tumors, and the surgical and neurological risks.