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Objectives: We retrospectively evaluated patients who
underwent surgery for parotid gland masses.
Patients and Methods: A total of 50 patients (25 females,
25 males; mean age 48.5 years; range 18 to 76 years) who
underwent surgery for parotid gland masses were evaluated
with regard to age, sex, preoperative diagnostic methods,
histopathologic diagnoses, and surgical techniques.
Results: Preoperative diagnostic studies included ultrasonography,
fine-needle aspiration biopsy, computed tomoghraphy
and magnetic resonance imaging. Histopathological diagnoses
were benign in 33 patients (66%), malignant in nine patients
(18%), and tumor-like pathologies in eight patients (16%), the
most common being pleomorphic adenoma (n=28, 56%),
Warthin’s tumor (n=4, 8%), and squamous cell carcinoma (n=4,
8%). Superficial and total parotidectomies were performed in
40 (80%) and 10 (20%) patients, respectively. Nine patients
with malignant tumors also had neck dissection and postoperative
radiotherapy. Mortality occurred in one patient with metastasis
to the parotid gland. One patient with lipoma developed
recurrence two years after surgery. Follow-up was five years in
28 patients (56%), three years in 12 patients (24%), and two
years in five patients (10%). Complete and transient facial
paralysis developed in 10 patients and five patients following
total and superficial parotidectomy, respectively.
Conclusion: Superficial parotidectomy is the minimal surgery
for parotid gland masses. If the deep lobe of the gland is
involved, total parotidectomy should be performed with
preservation of the facial nerve. In malignant tumors neck dissection
and postoperative radiotherapy should be added.