title: PAROTID TUMORS: IS SURGERY ALWAYS THE ONLY WAY?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the characteristics and management of parotid tumors in a tertiary care center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  All cases of parotid tumors (or masses) in our department between Jan 1, 1999 and December 31st, 2012 were studied. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, histopathology and management were analyzed. We also evaluated the diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in our center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 216 parotid tumors, 164 underwent parotidectomy and 52 were not managed surgically; 73.1% had a benign tumor (36.6% had Warthin's tumor) and 16.7% had a malignant one. In our center, FNAC was found to have a sensitivity for reporting malignancy of 71.4% and a specificity to rule in malignancy of 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our series, Warthin's tumor was the most frequent mass probably related to the high tobacco use. The prevalence of malignant tumors was relatively high in our series. Primary malignant tumors and pleomorphic adenomas should always be treated surgically, however, lymphomas, metastatic and benign inflammatory masses and cases of Warthin's tumors could be managed nonsurgically.
authors.forename: Chadi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farah
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ghorra
authors.forename: Charbel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nassif
authors.forename: Bassam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tabchy
authors.forename: Amine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haddad
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies