[The parotid gland's tumours in material of Otolaryngology Department Medical Academy in Warsaw in 1990-2006].

Introduction: The purpose of this work was the desire for handing over authors' experience in diagnostic and operative procedures in the case of the parotid gland's tumours, presenting gathered material, ways of removing tumours and curing results. They are paying special attention for dealing with tumours infiltrating skull base, penetrating intracranial, requiring practicing "the saving surgery".

Material And Methods: The study is the analysis of 317 patients; 180 (58%) women and 131 (42%) men with parotid gland tumours in patients treated in ENT Department between X. 1989 - XII. 2006. In 222 cases they made a partial parotidectomy, in 63 total, in 11 radical parotidectomy, in 21 cases radical parotidectomy widened for the radical neck dissection, where 8 patients were subjected to the radical saving surgery - subtotal petrosectomy and craniotomy. Authors analyzed surgical treatment and intraoperative tumours stage. The results of histological diagnosis were presented.

Results: The period of follow-up is from 1.5 year to 16 years. The frequency of incidence of benign tumours was 81%. The most frequent tumours were pleomorphic adenoma and adenolymphoma. Malignant tumours constituted 19% of all parotid gland tumours. The most common malignant tumours were adenoid cyst (15%) and undifferenciated (15%) carcinomas. Out of 59 patients with malignant tumours 29 died.

Conclusions: (1) There were 81% cases of benign neoplasm and 19% malignant neoplasm in presented material. (2) The result of parotid gland treatment depends on tumor's histopathology, the period of disease, the size of tumour, its expansion into the neighbourhood, infiltrating of the facial nerve and metastases into the lymph nodes. (3) Radical resection of tumour and metastases, reconstructing the continuity of tissues and maintaining the quality of patients life, should be the principle of surgical treatment.