1999 Volume 45 Issue 3 Pages 211-214
A very rare case of lipoma of the parotid gland is reported. The patient was a 71-year-old male who complained of a painless swelling in his right intra-auricular region. Radiological imaging by CT scanning and MRI revealed a tumor in the deep lobe of the right parotid gland, extending to the garapharyngeal space. The pathological nature of the tumor was very difficult to diagnose based on the findings of a preoperative fine needle biopsy, due to uncertainty regarding the location of the needle point at biopsy in relation to the tumor. The interoperative pathological diagnosis was useful in determining the appropriate operative course. The tumor was totally removed, together with the deep lobe of the parotid gland. Temporary facial paralysis was encountered postoperatively, but later resolved satisfactorily. This case is only the fifth in the world to be reported in the literature.
