It is the most common benign salivary gland tumor. Warthin's tumor, also known as papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum, is common in elderly men, and can be bilateral. Monomorphic adenoma is another benign neoplasm of the salivary glands. These tumors present as discrete painless, slowly enlarging masses, usually in the superficial lobe of the parotid gland. Thre is no facial nerve weakness.
Treatment is superficial parotidectomy.
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant neoplasm of the parotid gland. Adenoid cystic carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the submandibular gland, also called the submaxillary gland. Adenoid cystic carcinoma is particularly nasty in that it has a very high tendency to invade and travel along nerves, making curative resections very difficult. Acinic cell carcinoma and these others are less common salivary gland malignancies. Facial weakness is sign of malignancy, and it's also a sign of poor long-term survival.