This is a retrospective analysis of 35 patients treated for a first recurrence of pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland from 1982 to 1997. All patients were treated surgically; no patient received radiotherapy for benign disease. We experienced a locoregional control rate of 77%. Our malignant transformation rate was 5.7%. Our results suggest that in carefully selected patients, local excision of recurrent disease is sufficient in controlling further recurrence.