[Diagnosis and treatment of the tumors of the parotid region in Pediatrics: cohort].

INTRODUCTION: Parotid tumors are rare in children and usually have multiple differential diagnoses that require different diagnostic and treatment methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of all consecutive pediatric patients with parotid tumors that were treated in Pediatric Surgery Service of Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients with parotid tumors were included and 72% (n=16) were female patients. The median age was 10 years (range: prenatal to 19 years). Imaging studies: ultrasound, CT and MRI. Diagnostic methods: needle or open biopsy (14), biopsy of lymph nodes (3), imaging (4), blood test (1). Treatment: surgical resection (12), medical treatment (7), sclerotherapy (2). Diverse histological diagnosis were obtained: pleomorphic adenoma (4), infantile hemangioma (4), PNET (2), low flow vascular malformation (2), Castleman's disease (1), schwannoma (1), neuroblastoma (1), alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (1), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (1) RICH (Rapidly Involuting Congenital Hemangioma) (1), granulomatous disease (1), reactive adenitis (1), parotid cyst (1), ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) (1). Follow-up (42,5 months): 18 patients are free of disease, 3 are currently under medical treatment and 1 died. CONCLUSIONS: Our series shows the diversity that parotid tumor can present in pediatric population and is consistent with the literature there the incidence of benign lesions are predominant. However, it is difficult to predict risk of malignancy. An exhaustive diagnosis is important, using complementary methods and biopsy whenever that is necessary.