BACKGROUND: Classical lateral parotidectomy is the standard surgical procedure for the management of lateral lobe parotid pleomorphic adenomas in most clinical centres. Extracapsular dissection and subtotal lateral parotidectomy are alternatively discussed in current literature and preferred by many authors. CASE: We report on a 20-year-old patient with multiple primary pleomorphic adenomas in the unilateral parotid gland, which preoperatively presented as a solitary tumour node. CONCLUSION: Considering this case we focus on the distinctive surgical procedures for the management of parotid pleomorphic adenomas. We work out, why lateral or even total parotidectomy are justified in the treatment of solitary palpable tumours and why we account lateral parotidectomy as the standard surgical procedure for the management of lateral lobe parotid pleomorphic adenomas.
BACKGROUND: Classical lateral parotidectomy is the standard surgical procedure for the management of lateral lobe parotid pleomorphic adenomas in most clinical centres. Extracapsular dissection and subtotal lateral parotidectomy are alternatively discussed in current literature and preferred by many authors. CASE: We report on a 20-year-old patient with multiple primary pleomorphic adenomas in the unilateral parotid gland, which preoperatively presented as a solitary tumour node. CONCLUSION: Considering this case we focus on the distinctive surgical procedures for the management of parotid pleomorphic adenomas. We work out, why lateral or even total parotidectomy are justified in the treatment of solitary palpable tumours and why we account lateral parotidectomy as the standard surgical procedure for the management of lateral lobe parotid pleomorphic adenomas.