Management of pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid

A series of 336 parotidectomies, carried out for benign disease has been followed for up to 20 years. One hundred and thirty primary pleomorphic adenomas were treated by wide excision of the tumour after identification of the facial nerve. Recurrence occurred in only one patient and, although 20 patients (15 per cent) experienced some degree of facial nerve weakness postoperatively, there was only one case of permanent weakness.