Transoral approach to accessory parotid tumours: case series and literature review

Accessory parotid tumours are rare, accounting for less than 10% of parotid neoplasms. Although similar tumours affect both the accessory parotid and parotid, accessory parotid tumours are associated with higher rates of malignancy. Surgery is first line management. Standard surgical management involves a similar approach to superficial parotidectomy, despite the anterior location of these lesions. This approach requires extensive subcutaneous access and facial nerve dissection and therefore, poses significant risk. It can also result in poor cosmetic result due to scarring and Frey's Syndrome. On the contrary, a transoral approach to reduces the risk of cosmetic deformity, reduces recovery time and does not increase risk to the facial nerve. We present a case series of patients with accessory parotid masses, which have been successfully excised transoral and without endoscopic assistance.