Abstract
Objectives
1) To evaluate our results and complications after partial parotidectomy vs. superficial parotidectomy, as primary treatment of benign parotid tumors. 2) To present an evidence-based review on partial parotidectomy as the method of choice of treatment of benign parotid tumors.
Methods
A case-control study is presented on parotidec-tomy, comparing a group of 25 patients treated by partial parotidectomy vs. a similar group of 25 patients treated by superficial parotidectomy. All patients had primary benign parotid tumors, were matched by sex and age, and had a minimum follow-up of 12 months in a university hospital. Independent variables included sex, age, medical history, intraoperative variables (surgical time, estimated blood loss, type of drainage, use of collagen), fine-needle aspiration, CT findings, and final histopathological diagnosis. Outcome measures were early and late complications, such as facial nerve paralysis, seroma, sialocele, Frey syndrome, and recurrence. Comparison of both groups was done by Chi-squared and non-parametric analysis, after a .05 significance level, and multivariate regression analysis.
Results
Partial parotidectomy resulted in less early and late complications than superficial parotidectomy, with similar recurrence rates. Facial paresis was found in 24% of partial surgeries, vs. 36% of superficial ones (a significant difference); 3 months after surgery, only 1 patient has a persistent marginal nerve paresis. By contrast, only seroma was more common after partial parotidectomy (28% vs 16%).
Conclusions
Partial parotidectomy achieves less early and late complications than superficial parotidectomy, with similar recurrence rates.
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