title: Facial nerve function in carcinoma of the parotid gland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse, for patients with carcinoma of the parotid gland, the prognostic value for treatment outcome of the function of the facial nerve (NVII), and determining facial nerve dysfunction after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective study of the Dutch head and Neck cooperative group (NWHHT), data of 324 patients with parotid carcinoma were analysed. The function of N VII before treatment was intact in 77%, partially and completely impaired in 14% and 7%, respectively. Eighty-eight percent of the patients were treated surgically, and 77% of them were treated by a combination of postoperative radiotherapy. In 21% NVII was sacrificed, a reconstruction was performed in one of three.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independent risk factors for N VII dysfunction before treatment were tumour localisation, positive neck nodes at presentation, pain, increasing age, and perineural invasion. Regional, not local, control was significantly impaired for complete facial paralysis. N VII dysfunction was an independent factor for disease free survival, and was 69%, 37% and 13% for normal, partially and completely impaired function, respectively. After treatment 22% of the patients experienced a partial paralysis, and 13% of the patients experienced a complete paralysis of N VII.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For patients with parotid carcinoma, facial nerve function before treatment is a strong prognostic factor for disease free survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center, UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands. C.H.J.Terhaard@azu.nl
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Terhaard
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lubsen
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Thijs
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Merkx
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van der Laan
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baatenburg de Jong
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baatenburg-de Jong
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Manni
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knegt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D005155:Facial Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome