From 1987 through 1996, 258 parotid tumors were treated at Beijing Stomatological Hospital. In this series, 219 cases were benign and 39 were malignant. Of the benign tumors, 141 were pleomorphic adenomas, and 49 were Warthin's tumors. The other 29 cases consisted of 7 monomorphic adenomas, 6 basal cell adenomas, 6 myoepitheliomas, and 10 nonepithelial tumors.The clinical characteristics of patients with pleomorphic adenomas were compared with those of patients with Warthin's tumors. The average age of patients with Warthin's tumors was higher than that of patients with pleomorphic adenomas (60.1 years vs. 39.5 years). Pleomorphic adenomas were more frequent in females than in males (1.39: 1), whereas Warthin's tumors were more connor in males than in females (5.13: 1). The proportion of smokers among patients with Warthin's tumors was higher than that among patients with of pleomorphic adenomas (96.9% vs. 50.0%). These three factors differed significantly between the two types of tumors.The malignant tumor group included 8 mucoepidermoid carcinomas, 7 carcinomas in pleomorphic adenomas, 6 adenocarcinomas, 6 acinic cell carcinomas, 4 adenoid cystic carcinomas, and 4 papillary cyst adenocarcinomas.All tumors were treated by surgery. Total parotidectomy was performed for 22 of the 39 malignant tumors, superficial parotidectomy was performed for 16 cases, and deep lobectomy was performed for 1 cases. In patients with pleomorphic adenomas and Warthin's tumors, local excision of the tumors was performed for 16 cases, superficial parotidectomy for 169 cases, superficial parotidectomy with partial deep lobectomy for 4 cases and partial resection of the parotid gland including the tumor for 1 case.The facial nerve was exposed from the truncus to the branches in 85 cases and from the branches to the truncus in 88 cases. Weakness of the facial nerve occurred in 29 patients im-mediately after surgery, but recovered within a few weeks. No difference was noted in the occurrence of nerve disturbance between the two groups.Complete encapsulation of the tumor was observed in 73.8% of pleomorphic adenomas and 70.5% of Warthin's tumors, and no encapsulation was found in 1 Warthin's tumor and all 8 mucoepidermoid carcinomas. Tumor cells invaded into the capsule in 41.8% of pleomorphic adenomas. In conclusion, an adequate surgical margin is needed in parotid tumor surgery even in patients with benign tumors.