Parotidectomy in childhood--with a review of the literature.

Parotid tumours in childhood are rare. Four patients under 16 years old having parotidectomy are described and the literature is reviewed. The presentation, pathology and prognosis of parotid tumours in childhood is different to that seen in adults. Half of the parotid tumours in childhood are malignant but most are of low grade. Rapid growth, if present, may be the only clue of malignancy and facial nerve palsy or cervical node metastasis have rarely been described. Adequate surgical excision with facial nerve preservation is the treatment of choice and radical neck dissection is rarely necessary. Radiotherapy should be avoided and the prognosis is very favourable. It is difficult to differentiate clinically between benign and low-grade malignant tumours and because of the high incidence of malignancy, all parotid tumours in childhood should be suspected of being malignant until proven otherwise.