RECURRENT PLEOMORPHIC ADENOMA

Of 209 cases of pleomorphic adenoma treated in a 30 year period, 38 we re secondary referrals with recurrent disease following surgery. Of th ese, 25 were women and 13 men with a mean time to recurrence of 9 year s 4 months. Thirty-four recurrences were in the parotid gland, three i n the submandibular gland and one in the anterior faucial pillar. Seve n patients were untreated due to poor general condition or refusal of further treatment. Of the remainder, 15 had superficial parotidectomy and excision of the scar and nine a total parotidectomy. Three of thes e had extensive surgery with local flap repair. Of the patients with s ubmandibular gland recurrence, two had local excision and one was trea ted with radiotherapy alone. One patient had a recurrence in the fauci al pillar. Three patients developed malignant change in the recurrent tumour, of whom one died of disease.