Parotidectomies in benign parotid tumours: "Sant Pau" surgical extension classification.
OBJECTIVE
At present different options co-exist for treating a benign tumour of the parotid gland, which has led to some confusion about the extent of resection performed in each case. In an effort to improve this situation, we created a classification system to define the areas removed. We started using this classification in July, 2006, and this article reviews its applicability and usefulness.


METHODS
We analyzed 44 patients who underwent surgery for clinically benign tumours of the parotid gland in our department between July, 2006, and December, 2008. In all resections, our classification was applied, dividing the parotid gland into five areas: I (lateral superior), II (lateral inferior), III (deep superior), IV (deep inferior), V (accessory).


RESULTS
The classification was easily applied and has presented no practical problem in the 44 patients operated. When analyzing the areas excised in surgery, the most common surgery was lateral inferior partial parotidectomy (removal of area II) in 47% of the cases. Lateral parotidectomy (removal of areas I and II) was the next most frequent, with 14 cases (33%). The remaining 20% was distributed among the other options.


CONCLUSIONS
Our classification system appears to be a simple and easy way to define the surgery performed in each case, which simplifies the description of the resection performed, even in unusual resections.
Quer
Miquel
M
Servicio de ORL y Patología Cervicofacial, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. mquer@santpau.cat
Pujol
Albert
A
León
Xavier
X
López
Montserrat
M
García
Jacinto
J
Orús
César
C
Sañudo
José Ramón
JR
D000235:Adenolymphoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018267:Carcinoma, Acinar Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003560:Cysts / Q000601:surgery; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000145:classification* / Q000379:methods; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult