Facial Nerve Grafting in Treatment of Parotid Gland Tumors

Abstract

Tumors of the parotid gland have been of particular interest to the clinician and the pathologist for the past 100 years. Their varied cellular arrangements have made their complete pathological classification a perplexing one. In the past, this situation was exaggerated by lack of an adequate correlation between the pathological classification and the appropriate therapy, thus causing the end-result analysis of the curative efforts directed against these tumors to be, in many instances, confusing. Recent efforts to clarify the microscopic classification of these tumors have been noteworthy. These classifications serve to emphasize the importance of the segregation of the various tumors of the parotid gland into their specific, microscopic categories, thus permitting the clinician to establish not only a more thorough and effective method of treatment, but a more accurate prognosis. Tumors of the parotid gland are divided into benign and malignant groups. Benign tumors of the parotid gland consist