3. Results
Sixty one patients with a PA who underwent CD were eligible and
completed the clinical and radiological follow up (table 1). The mean
time between surgery and radiological investigation was 6.16 years
(SD:±3.12) and time range 1-11.7 years. Two female patients had a
recurrence which was noted clinically (recurrence rate 3.2%). One of
these patients had a PA measuring 1 cm and developed a single recurrence
4 years after the first operation. She was operated at another
institution and is currently free of recurrence.The second patient had
an initial 3-cm PA and she was unaware of the recurrence until her last
follow up 8 years postoperatively. A FNA was suggestive of a PA but the
patient refused any further intervention at this stage. Both primary PAs
were located in the superficial parotid lobe and had incomplete capsules
but no other adverse histological features. Intraoperative spillage
could not be identified in the surgical record. No occult tumours were
discovered radiologically.