Parotid benign tumors: comments on surgical treatment of 263 cases

263 patients with benign parotid gland tumors have been operated upon, from 1970 through 1980. Of this total number of tumors, according to their histopathologic examination, 185 corresponded to pleomorphic adenoma, 24 to Warthin's tumor, 10 to recurrent pleomorphic adenomas (at first operated on elsewhere) and 44 to miscellaneous tumors or tumor-like lesions (simple cyst, lymphoepithelial lesion, branchial cleft cysts, lymph node hyperplasia etc.). 25 cases of pleomorphic adenoma, operated on during the past 24 months, were not evaluated as far as recurrence is concerned, because their follow-up was insufficiently long. The operative procedures used by us for pleomorphic adenoma surgery were: (a) pericapsular (extracapsular) excision, with a margin of normal parotid gland tissue without preparation of the fascial nerve, for 98 small size and superficially sited pleomorphic adenomas (52.6%); (b) subtotal parotidectomy (superficial lobectomy) with preparation of the facial nerve for 78 tumors (42.5%); (c) total parotidectomy with preservation of the nerve for 9 tumors located on the deep lobe of the gland (4.9%). We did not see any permanent facial palsy, and not one case of recurrence.