Multiple, synchronous, unilateral parotid adenomas: a case series.

Most tumours of the major salivary glands are single and unilateral, and involve the parotid. It is uncommon for synchronous, multifocal tumours of the same histological type to affect one gland, and cases with multiple types are rare. Extracapsular dissection, an established technique for the safe removal of benign tumours of the parotid gland, has low rates of morbidity and recurrence, but relies on careful preoperative assessment and selection of cases. In a consecutive series of 70 cases of extracapsular dissection over 5 years by one surgeon, we found a 4% incidence (n=3) of synchronous, unilateral, multiple adenomas in the parotid gland.