Superfacial parotidectomy for pleomorphic parotid adenomas.

A personal series of 49 pleomorphic and monomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland were reviewed with regard to clinical features, the difficulty of diagnosis, operative management, complications and recurrence. Parotidectomy is contrasted with limited surgery and radiotherapy, with particular reference to the morbidity associated with recurrent tumour and the potential adverse effects of radiotherapy. It is suggested that the difficulty of pre-operative diagnosis and the overall morbidity including that due to radiotherapy and recurrent tumour, favour formal parotidectomy as the primary operative management for all parotid adenomas.