Parotid neoplasms: Diagnosis, treatment, and intraparotid facial nerve anatomy

The demographics of parotid neoplasms in different populations have been reported by various centres. In this investigation, we reviewed retrospectively all the in-patient and out-patient charts and records of 108 patients who were diagnosed with parotid neoplasms and received parotidectomies in our department from 1 January 1993 to 15 April 2000. Patient age, gender, tumour pathology, fine-needle aspiration cytology results, and the intraparotid anatomy of the facial nerve were noted. We showed that despite the difference between our Taiwanese and previously studied patient populations, both populations had a similar distribution, diagnosis and treatment of parotid neoplasms, although the incidence of parotid tuberculosis was higher in our patient group. In addition, the facial nerve anatomy within the parotid gland had three main branching patterns in the upper and lower division.