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.