Safety of extracapsular dissection in benign superficial parotid lesions

Functional outcomes after extracapsular dissection with partial facial nerve dissection for small and large parotid neoplasms

PURPOSE

Multiple surgical options exist for benign parotid tumors without agreement upon a single, best approach. We evaluated the short-term outcomes and rate of complications using the ECD-FND technique for small and large parotid neoplasms involving the superficial and deep lobes of the parotid gland using a categorical approach.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A single surgeon retrospective cohort study with analysis of patient demographics, outcomes, and complication rates was conducted of patients undergoing the ECD-FND for benign parotid neoplasm. Cases from May 2014 to May 2020 with at least 6 months follow up were considered. Complications were assessed by chart review and tumors were categorized by size and by European Salivary Gland Society (ESGS) classification assigned by a neuroradiologist.

RESULTS

Fifty-one patients who underwent ECD-FND of suspected benign parotid mass met inclusion criteria. The most common histology was pleomorphic adenoma (56.9%) followed by Warthin's tumor (19.6%). Overall rate of complications was 31.4% with no major complications. Most patients (88.2%) had normal facial nerve function immediately after surgery and all recovered completely in the post operative period. Sialocele occurred in 15.7% of patients with 87.5% resolved within one month and seromas occurred in four patients (7.8%). There was no significant difference in complication rates between the size of tumor (p = 0.889), depth (p = 0.770), or ESGS classification (p = 0.846).

CONCLUSIONS

The ECD-FND technique achieved excellent facial nerve outcomes among our cohort, which included a - proportion of large (>3 cm) and deep lobe tumors. Complications rates and outcomes were similar for larger and deep lobe tumors that underwent a ECD-FND approach.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

Sialocyst of the Parotid Gland in a Child

Non-neoplastic cysts localized in salivary glands are quite rare and represent approximately 2-5% of all salivary gland lesions. Salivary duct cyst, also known as sialocyst is a true cyst with the epithelium lining the inner side of its walls. It is generally observed in minor salivary glands and it rarely involves the parotid. Patients are mostly affected between the ages of 30 and 40 and the lesion is rarely seen in children. The current case is a rare report, as the patient was a child. The diagnosis has been difficult to ascertain due to the presence of pain, symptom characteristic for inflammatory lesions.

Extracapsular dissection versus partial superficial parotidectomy for the treatment of benign parotid tumours

The purpose of this study was to compare the complications of patients treated for a benign parotid tumour (BPT) by extracapsular dissection (ECD) vs. partial superficial parotidectomy (PSP). A comprehensive literature investigation was conducted by searching electronic databases. A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies were performed to assess ECD and PSP for the treatment of BPTs with fixed-effects models. The outcomes analysed were transient or permanent facial nerve injury, Frey syndrome, recurrence rate, infection, and salivary fistula/sialocele. A total of 1641 patients from seven studies (1120 ECD-treated and 521 PSP-treated patients) were included in this meta-analysis. Transient facial nerve injury (odds ratio (OR)=0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.11-0.71; p=0.008) and Frey syndrome (OR=0.12, 95% CI: 0.03-0.48; p=0.003) were less prevalent in the ECD group. The rates of permanent facial nerve injury (OR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.35-1.70; p=0.520), recurrence rate (OR=0.17, 95% CI: 0.02-1.75; p=0.14), infection (OR=0.70, 95% CI: 0.07-6.67; p=0.76), and salivary fistula/sialocele (OR=0.40, 95% CI: 0.06-2.66; p=0.350) were similar in both groups. Although there was a trend that ECD showed a reduced risk for complications, the present results are not sufficient to conclude that ECD is more beneficial than PSP.

PRISMA-Extracapsular Dissection Versus Superficial Parotidectomy in Treatment of Benign Parotid Tumors: Evidence From 3194 Patients

Benign parotid tumor is one of the most common neoplasms in head and neck region. Its therapeutic methods have been debatable topics over the past 100 years. Recently, some surgeons suggest that extracapsular dissection (ECD) instead of superficial parotidectomy (SP) for treatment of benign parotid tumor. This study aimed to compare ECD with SP in the treatment of benign parotid tumors by a meta-analysis.We searched Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Ovid, and Web of Science databases on February 14, 2015 for studies that assessed clinical outcomes of SP and ECD as surgical techniques for the management of benign parotid tumors. Outcome data were evaluated by pooled risk ratio (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI).After serious scrutiny, a total of 14 cohort studies with 3194 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled RR revealed that there were no significant difference in tumor recurrence rate between ECD and SP (fixed-effect model: RR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.40-1.27, P = 0.249; random-effect model: RR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.38-1.23, P = 0.197). However, there were significantly lower incidences of transient facial nerve dysfunction (FND), permanent FND, and Frey's syndrome in patients of ECD group compared with SP group.ECD might be a good choice in treatment of the benign parotid tumor that were mobile, small, located in superficial lobe and without adhesion to facial nerve; ECD should be performed by the experienced surgeons with ability of dissection facial nerve, who should perform SP if tumor is found adhere to facial nerve during an operation; and a multicenter randomized control trial study is necessary to decide the optimal treatment of benign parotid tumor.