Pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland, surgical management: a case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign tumor of the salivary glands, particularly of the parotid gland. The main characteristic of this benign tumor is its slow growth, causing the noticeable presence of facial or cervical mass. The treatment is surgery, with the main risk of postoperative facial paralysis. We present a case report, resolved surgically with a partial pa-rotidectomy, which involves dissection of the facial nerve. CASE REPORTS: A 34 year old female patient, seeking medical attention due to a slow-growing mass in the right parotid region. Patient denied associated symptoms. After CT and Fine needle puncture, the patient was diagnosed of a pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland, and treated with right partial parotidectomy. EVOlUTION: The surgical technique used is described on literature, with a variant in the incision type. We used modified Blair incision. The whole tumor was removed. After surgery patient presented with facial paralysis, she was treated with corticoids. Patient was discharged with a House Brackmann 1 score. CONClUSIONS: Accordingly with literature, the resolution of this pathology is surgical, paratidectomy is the only treatment that avoids the mass causing damage to adjacent structures, like the facial nerve. The proper identification and dissection of this nerve, is one of the main concerns of the procedure. KEY WORDS: PAROTID GLAND, PLEOMORPHIC ADENOMA, HEAD AND NECK NEOPLASM, FACIAL PARALYSIS