Pleomorphic adenoma is a slow-growing benign salivary gland tumor, most commonly arising in the parotid gland. Macroscopically it has a surrounding capsule from which it can be enucleated, the treatment often used in the past. These tumors do not have a true capsule but can compress the surrounding normal salivary gland, frequently having finger-like projections into the normal tissues. Recurrence, or more accurately residual disease, is thought to be due to these small islands of tumor, which

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... an be left behind in surgery, especially in enucleation procedures, which are associated with high recurrence rates. We present a case with a history of multiple previous enucleation procedures due to the pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland, which demonstrated malignant pattern including peripheral nerve invasion after superficial parotidectomy.