Endoscopic Resection for Benign Parotid Tumor Through a Cosmetic Retroauricular Incision with Water Sac Establishing Operative Space: A New Approach

Abstract

Abstract

Purpose:

To develop a new approach of endoscopic resection for benign parotid tumor through a cosmetic retroauricular incision with a water sac establishing the operative space.

Materials and Methods:

Fifty-eight patients with benign parotid superficial lobe tumor were randomly assigned to an endoscopic (29 patients) or a conventional (29 patients) surgery group. The maximum diameter of the tumors was 6 cm. The subjective satisfaction scores with the incision scar, incision length, operative bleeding volume, postoperative complications, and recurrence rate were compared between the groups.

Results:

All operations were successfully performed. The endoscopic incision length (4.3±0.5 cm), bleeding volume (26.6±10.4 mL), and incidence of temporary facial paresis (6.9%) differed from the conventional surgery group (P<.05). The scars were almost invisible behind the ear. The mean patient satisfaction score was 8.9±0.7 in the endoscopic surgery group and 6.7±1.8 in the conventional surgery group (P<.05). Otherwise, Frey's syndrome and salivary fistula incidences were 3.4% (1/29) and 3.4% (1/29), respectively, in the endoscopic surgery group, which was not significantly different from the conventional surgery group (P>.05). No tumor recurrence was found during the 3–72 months of follow-up.

Conclusions:

Endoscopic resection through a cosmetic retroauricular incision with a water sac establishing operative space is a feasible method for treatment of benign parotid superficial lobe tumor. Its main advantages are that the small and concealed operative scars improved the cosmetic results, and it provided a novel method for establishing the operation working space that could reduce the operative trauma.