Surgery of the salivary glands is complex because of their anatomical relations, their differing pathologies and the difficulty in diagnosis. All of the salivary glands can be, and are, subject to these pathologies and are of interest to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. The greatest number of salivary gland neoplasms occur in the parotid glands and are mainly benign. It is the purpose of this paper to review the surgery and pathology relating to the parotid salivary glands presenting to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Adelaide. Although this cohort of patients is relatively small it gives some idea of the range of pathology which presents in this area and the complications which can be expected from this surgery.