Prudent Management of the Mid‐Cheek Mass: Revisiting the Accessory Parotid Gland Tumor

Objectives/Hypothesis The head and neck surgeon's fascination with parotid surgery arises from the gland's spectrum of histopathological presentations, as well as the diversity of its morphological features. A mass arising in the mid‐cheek region may often be overlooked as a rare accessory lobe parotid neoplasm. This report serves to revisit the topic of accessory parotid gland neoplasms to emphasize proper management, particularly the surgical aspects, so that consequences of salivary fistula, facial nerve paralysis, and recurrence are avoided. Study Design This is a retrospective review of our experience with four accessory parotid gland neoplasms and five other masses mimicking this lesion. Methods A literature review and retrospective chart review. Results Over a 6‐year period, we have encountered four true accessory lobe tumors, all pleomorphic adenomas. These presented very similarly to four other more commonly encountered masses not of salivary origin and one normal but hyperplastic accessory parotid gland. All were removed through a wide parotidectomy‐style approach modified by extending incisions anterosuperiorly and inferoanteriorly. The only complication was a minor salivary fistula in one patient. There were no permanent facial paralyses. Conclusions Accessory parotid gland neoplasms are rare and may present as innocuous extraparotid mid‐cheek masses. A high index of suspicion, prudent diagnostic skills (including fine‐needle aspiration [FNA] biopsy followed by computed tomography [CT] imaging), and meticulous surgical approach (extended parotidectomy‐style incision and limited peripheral nerve dissection when possible) are the keys to successful management of these lesions.