Diagnosis, treatment and outcome of malignant parotid tumors:an 8-year single insitutional experience in Heilbronn

Malignant parotid tumors are rare. The differential diagnosis between benign and malignant tumors based on the clinical presentation is very difficult. In this study, data from hospital´s electronic medical records of patients with primary parotid cancer, who were diagnosed and treated in the Otolaryngology department in Heilbronn from 2010-2018, were evaluated for epidemiological data, diagnostic methods, therapy and outcome. 45 patients were treated for primary parotid cancer (27 men, 18 women, mean age 61 years). The most common symptoms were a palpable lump, pain and rapid growth. Facial palsy was found in 11,1% of the patients. The most frequently used diagnostic method was the ultrasound (97,8%). All patients were treated primarily with surgery (partial or total parotidectomy with or without resection of facial nerve). 38%of the patients had radiotherapy postoperatively, the indications were high grade tumors, T3/T4 stage, lymph node metastasis, perineural invasion and positive or uncertain surgical margins. 67% of the patients had a neck dissection. Recurrence was found in 22% of the patients. The 3-year recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS ) were 72,1%, 91,9% and 87,5% respectively. Significant influence on RFS was found in preoperative facial palsy, T stage, resection margins and perineural invasion. The diagnosis of parotid cancer in an early stage is very crucial, in order to achieve tumor-free surgical margins and better survival rates.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. Mai 2022