Lipomatous lesions of the parotid gland.
OBJECTIVE
Lipomatous lesions of the parotid gland are rare and seldom considered in the initial diagnosis of a parotid mass. We report our experience in the management of patients with lipomatous lesions affecting the parotid gland.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of all parotidectomies performed for neoplastic lesions in the maxillofacial unit between 1975 and 2003 and patients with lipomatous lesions involving the parotid gland were identified; 638 parotidectomies were performed in this period on 629 patients in which 660 neoplasms were identified. Eight patients were found to have lipomatous lesions and form the basis of this study.


RESULTS
Lipomatous lesions accounted for only 1.3% of parotid tumors and occurred more frequently in males, at a ratio of 3 to 1. The most common presentation was that of a slowly enlarging, painless mass. Computed tomography scan was the most frequent imaging modality undertaken, and in 3 patients a diagnosis of a lipoma was made preoperatively. Seven patients underwent a superficial parotidectomy and 1 patient had a total conservative parotidectomy because of the deep lobe location of the mass. Five patients were found to have a focal lipoma and 3 patients had diffuse lipomatosis. There were no recurrences. Temporary facial nerve palsy and Frey's syndrome were the most frequent complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Lipomatous lesions accounted for only 1.3% of all parotid tumors. There were no specific distinguishing clinical features in our patients, and an accurate preoperative diagnosis was made in 3 patients based on imaging investigations. A well-circumscribed lipoma was more common than diffuse lipomatosis. Superficial parotidectomy was the treatment of choice and there were no recurrences in our series.
Ethunandan
Madanagopalan
M
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, West Sussex, UK. mgethu@hotmail.com
Vura
Gopal
G
Umar
Tijjani
T
Anand
Rajiv
R
Pratt
Clive A
CA
Macpherson
David W
DW
Wilson
Alan W
AW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012744:Sex Ratio; D013547:Sweating, Gustatory / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed