Extra-capsular dissection in benign parotid tumors.
The type of surgery for benign parotid tumors is still lacking of general consensus: this retrospective study, from 1964 to 2004 with a minimum follow-up of 7 years, is carried out with the aim to evaluate the results of parotidectomy and extracapsular dissection (ECD).


METHODS
Three hundred forty-nine pts were operated for pleomorphic adenoma (219) or cystadenolymphoma (165). ECD was performed in 332 pts and parotidectomy in 52. Pts retrospectively provided health-related informations. The local recurrences and the complications were the main outcome measures.


RESULTS
The total recurrence rate was 3.15%:2.3% after ECD and 12% after parotidectomy (p=0001). The rate of post-operative complications was lower in the ECD group with 1.3% of permanent facial paralysis, 0.3% of salivary fistula and 1.3% of Frey's syndrome compared to 4%, 6% and 44% respectively in the parotidectomy group.


CONCLUSIONS
ECD may be an effective alternative to parotidectomy for the treatment of benign parotid tumors and generally results in a low rate of recurrences and complications.
Otolaryngology, Azienda Ospedaliera "S. Maria degli Angeli", Pordenone, Italy. Electronic address: luigi.barzan@aopn.fvg.it.
Luigi
L
Barzan
Otolaryngology, Azienda Ospedaliera "S. Maria degli Angeli", Pordenone, Italy.
Marco
M
Pin
D000235:Adenolymphoma / Q000601:surgery*; D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000601:surgery*; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000209:etiology; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012467:Salivary Gland Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D013547:Sweating, Gustatory / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome