[Tumors of the parotid gland--management and results of surgical treatment].

INTRODUCTION

Tumors of the salivary glands are uncommon and represent 2-4% of head and neck neoplasms. Most tumors originate in the parotid gland, from which 10 to 15% are found to be malignant. Different methods of surgical treatment can be performed depending on the type, localization and size of tumor.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of the medical data of 138 patients with parotid gland tumors who where treated in our departament between 1997-2007 was done.

RESULTS

There were 74 women and 64 men. Benign tumors were found in 104 patients with the pleomorphic adenoma as the most common (53 cases). The rest histological type were Whartin's tumor, myoepithelial and basal cell adenoma respectively. Malignant neoplasms were diagnosed in 16 patients, most commonly mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The most frequent localization of the tumor after dividing the parotid gland into four parts was postero-inferior pole. 68 patients (49.27%) had superficial parotidectomy, extracapsular dissection was performed in 65 cases (47.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Frequency of tumors of the parotid gland, their histological types and methods of surgical treatment in our data support other studies. Ultrasonography is the key procedure in the diagnosis of tumors of the parotid gland, qualification into surgical treatment and postoperative observation. In extracapsular dissection the risk of the facial nerve paralysis is lower than in other technics.