title: [An evaluation of parotid gland masses].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent surgery for parotid gland masses.
  
  
  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 tomography, 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan Vakif Gureba Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. husamuguzettinyasar@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hüsamettin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yaşar
authors.forename: Haluk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozkul
authors.forename: Ayşegül
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verim
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ilhan
authors.forename: Numan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kökten
authors.forename: Gökçe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dereci
mesh_terms: D000235:Adenolymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology