[Is there a role for radiotherapy in the treatment of patients with pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland?].

A group of 79 patients primarily operated (n = 63) or operated for local recurrence after previous surgery (n = 16) and irradiated post-operatively was studied retrospectively. Indications for radiation treatment were: enucleation and spill after pseudo-penetration of the capsule or remnants of tumour after partial or total parotidectomy respectively. During follow-up (4-16 years) only one of the patients, irradiated because of recurrence, had a second recurrence. No major complications or malignant degenerations took place. Partial or total parotidectomy with saving of the facial nerve is the treatment of choice rather than a combination of enucleation with radiotherapy. However, in case of remnants after radical surgery or re-excision for recurrent tumour postoperative irradiation appears to be indicated and effective.