[Revision of the parotid--assessing the risk and indications status for re-parotidectomy]

Recurrences of benign and malignant tumors and inflammatory complications are the main indications for revision parotidectomy. Many of these operations could be avoided if the primary surgical procedure had been adequate. Revision parotidectomy is difficult to perform when the facial nerve is embedded in scar tissue. Indications for and risks of revision parotidectomy are demonstrated for typical situations such as recurrent pleomorphic adenomas and malignancies, postoperative fistulas, and recurrences of previously operated chronic parotitis.