Features
Incidence: Most common in the parotid, less in the submandibular gland.
Pathology: Benign tumor.
Site: Usually from the superficial part of the parotid gland.
Symptom: Painless, slowly growing swelling on the side of the face.
Sign
- Well-defined swelling, lobulated, freely mobile (not attached to skin, muscles, or bones).
- Variable in consistency (firm or cystic but never hard).
- Elevating lobule of the ear.
- With no cervical LNs enlargement or facial nerve infiltration.
Differential Diagnosis
- Non-neoplastic lesions, LNs, sebaceous cyst, and lipoma.
Complication
- Disfigurement.
- Malignant transformation after > 10 years is rare (2-3%).
Investigations
- CT scan for the assessment of tumors arising from the deep part of the parotid.
- Tc99 scan: cold spot.
Treatment
- Tumor in parotid:
- Conservative superficial parotidectomy if the lesion is superficial.
- Total conservative parotidectomy if the lesion is deep.
- Tumor in the submandibular gland:
- Submandibular sialadenectomy.