Pathologic correlation of the unknown solid parotid mass in children.

A parotid mass in a pediatric patient is stated to have an approximately 50% likelihood of being malignant. To evaluate our experience in light of this suggested incidence, we conducted a retrospective study, which included 22 patients treated over an 8-year period, 1979 to 1987. Patients' ages ranged from 16 months to 19 years, and all patients presented with an unknown, solid parotid mass. One patient had a malignancy, mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Eight patients were diagnosed with benign pleomorphic adenoma. Thirteen patients had an inflammatory process consisting of one of the following conditions: cat-scratch disease (4); atypical mycobacteria (4); benign follicular hyperplasia of a lymph node (4); and toxoplasmosis (1). The histologic findings in this series suggest that unknown solid parotid masses that occur in children or adolescents are frequently the result of inflammatory conditions and are not likely to be malignant. We therefore recommend a reconsideration of the reputed estimation of malignancy in the parotid gland in children. The majority of pathologic conditions discovered, however, are still best diagnosed and treated by surgical excision.