[Reoperation and recurrence of pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid. A propos of 62 cases].

Between 1967 and 1994, 344 patients were treated with total conservative parotidectomy for benign pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland. Our retrospective study focuses on a sixty-two patients group treated for recurrence after biopsy, enucleation or total parotidectomy. Twenty-two patients underwent a systematic total parotidectomy after biopsy (n = 7) or enucleation (n = 15). Twenty-nine patients were treated with total parotidectomy for local recurrence after enucleation. The mean time before this treatment was 8 years-9 months. In the third group, 11 patients, (7 patients from our institution), were surgically treated for recurrence after total parotidectomy. After enucleation, the recurrence rate was high and insufficient margins were found in 27% of the cases. In this group, a multicentric recurrence was found in 45% of the cases. In our own experience, recurrence after total parotidectomy was noted in 2.4%. The surgical salvage was performed with enucleation after identification of the branches of the facial nerve. The operative microscope was usefull. In 1 case, a second recurrence occured, and in 1 case iterative recurrence was noted. The local control rate after total parotidectomy was 99.6% (292/293). Total conservative parotidectomy is, for us, the treatment of choice for pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland.