Question

A patient presents with facial nerve palsy and a parotid mass. Fine needle aspiration reveals a benign tumor. What is the most likely diagnosis?

1) Parotid gland carcinoma
2) Facial nerve schwannoma
3) Parotid pleomorphic adenoma
4) Parotid Warthin tumor

Answer 1

The most likely diagnosis for a patient with facial nerve palsy and a parotid mass, where the biopsy shows a benign tumor, is a Parotid pleomorphic adenoma.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient presents with facial nerve palsy and a parotid mass, and a fine needle aspiration reveals a benign tumor, the most likely diagnosis is Parotid pleomorphic adenoma. This is the most common benign salivary gland tumor and often presents as a painless, slow-growing mass in the parotid gland. Facial nerve schwannoma could also present with facial nerve palsy, but it is less likely to be associated with a parotid mass. Similarly, a Warthin tumor is another benign parotid tumor but is less common and often bilateral. Parotid gland carcinoma, while it can present as a parotid mass, would not typically be classified as benign on a fine needle aspiration biopsy.