Is the surgical treatment of benign tumors of the parotid gland possible without dissection of the facial nerve?

Introduction The aim of this study was to investigate the shift of paradigm in the approaches to the surgical treatment of benign tumors of the parotid gland over a 19-year period.

Method The records of all patients treated for benign parotid tumours between 2000 and 2018 in a single academic center were evaluated. Data were examined and analyzed with respect to the number of variable surgical procedures carried out per year of the study and the incidence of postoperative complications (facial nerve palsy, Frey’s syndrome). Statistical analysis was performed using the x² test. A p value of  < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results A total of 2988 patients were included in this study. Our evaluation showed that the increasing performance in extracapsular dissections was associated with a reduction in the incidence of temporary facial palsy and Frey's syndrome, while the rate of permanent facial paresis remained stably low.

Conclusion The ideal treatment for patients with benign parotid gland tumours is a highly controversial topic in the head and neck surgery. Our analysis has shown that a reduction of surgical invasiveness is possible with excellent functional outcomes. Dissection of the facial nerve can be avoided in more than two-thirds of patients with benign tumours of the parotid gland.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
10. Juni 2020