Malignant tumours of the parotid: a study of 76 patients

This study presents a series of malignant parotid tumours treated at the Institut Gustave-Roussy between 1975 and 1984. The lesions represented a wide variety of histological types. Few preoperative investigations were required, management being based on histology. Effective local control requires a total parotidectomy preserving the facial nerve where possible. It should be followed by routine radiotherapy which appears to reduce the incidence of local recurrence. The rate of local recurrence also depends on the histological type. It is seen more frequently in an adenocarcinoma following a pleomorphic adenoma than in simple adenocarcinoma. Patients with inoperable disease are treated with radiotherapy alone as chemotherapy has not so far been effective. Percentage 5-year survival for the three most common tumour types is as follows: adenocarcinoma: 49; adenoid cystic carcinoma: 83, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma: 75.