[Paralysis of the facial nerve caused by "low-grade" adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland--a contribution to the differential diagnosis of Bell's palsy].

Facial paresis is the only clinical symptom of two deep-seated, moderately malignant salivary duct carcinomas. The unusual course of the pareses (recurrences, varying degrees of severity) prompts the diagnosis of Bell's palsy. The final, exact diagnosis of a epithelial-myoepithelial intercalated duct carcinoma, respectively of a polymorphic low-grade adenocarcinoma, is made as late as six, respectively three, years after onset of the paresis.