[Surgery of pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland]

In literature opinion is divided, whether for treatment of pleomorphic adenoma in the parotid gland partial parotidectomy is adequate or complete parotidectomy is necessary. In a retrospective analysis of 123 complete parotidectomies in pleomorphic adenomas the macroscopic tumor extension was compared with the microscopic findings. Additionally 35 pleomorphic adenomas were examined in histological serial sections. The retrospective analysis showed in 6%, the serial sections in 11% microscopic tumor in the macroscopic tumorfree inner lobe. A clinical follow-up examination of 85 patients operated by complete parotidectomy because pleomorphic adenoma resulted in a relapse-quota of 3.5%. The function of the facial nerve was in most cases normal, in 8.2% a weakness of the mandibular branch was found. These results indicate that the risk to leave tumor can be reduced evidently by a complete parotidectomy.