Symposium: management of tumors of the parotid gland. IV. Differential diagnosis and management of deep lobe parotid tumors.

The problem of the pathological anatomy, the diagnosis, differential diagnosis and management of tumors of the parapharyngeal space has been discussed. Preoperative biopsy is to be discouraged in all benign lesions of the area. External approach with good adequate exposure is most important. Surgery is the treatment of choice in the benign lesion, by far the most common tumor as reported in the literature. Any tumor or disease of the superficial parotid may also be found in the deep lobe.