[Malignant tumors of the parotid gland. Apropos of 60 cases]

Among a series of 520 parotidectomies performed between 1975 and 1995, we observed 88 cases of malignancy (17%). For this study, we excluded skin cancers which had invaded the parotid and glandular metastases of squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma or kidney cancers, retaining only tumors with a glandular origin and lymphomas. Thus defined, our series comprised 60 patients, i.e. 12% of the operated parodids (31 confirmed cancers, 18 tumors with intermediary malignancy, including several in which the pathology report confirmed malignancy, and 11 lymphomas). We examined therapeutic management by histology and compared the outcomes. Relation with the facial nerve are discussed. Prognosis depends on histology, tumor stage and treatment.