title: [Quality of life after primary parotidectomy for benign tumor].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parotidectomy is commonly performed for various indications, including benign tumors of the parotid region. Esthetic or functional sequels of various importance and lasting effects may occur, as after any surgical procedure. These disorders may impact the patient's quality of life. The authors retrospectively evaluated the long-term outcome of patients having undergone conservative primary parotidectomy for a benign tumor, with a minimum follow-up of 10 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A hundred and twenty-six superficial conservative primary or secondary parotidectomies were performed during 5 years, 94 (74.6%) of which for benign tumors. A flap of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) was inserted between the skin and facial nerve branches to prevent Frey's syndrome and alleviate surgical site depression according to some criteria. Questionnaires were completed at least 10 years after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data of 53 patients was analyzed. 88.7% of patients had undergone a superficial parotidectomy and 11.3% a total one. The average histological tumor size was 3.3 cm (2.6 to 6.3 cm). The tumors were distributed as follows: pleomorphic adenoma in 79.4% of patients, cystadenolymphoma in 15.1%, oncocytoma in 3.7%, and basal cell adenoma in 1.8%. Twenty-six SCM flaps (49.1%) were performed. No patient presented with facial paresis or facial paralysis at the end of the study. The average follow-up was 10.4 years (10-11 years). Overall, social, psychological, and professional implications were reported by 7.5% of patients, and in 1.8% of cases the impact was significant. The use of a SCM flap seemed to prevent Frey's syndrome (Fischer test P=0.00001) and improved cosmetic results (Fisher test P<0.00001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conservative parotidectomy for primary benign tumors has a limited impact on the quality of life in the long run. This impact concerned 7.4% of patients. There was a significant impact in 2% of patients. We recommend filling the surgical site to improve functional and esthetic results and decrease long-term effects on the patient's quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et stomatologie, chirurgie plastique et réparatrice, chirurgie de la main, CHU, hôpital Bocage-Central, rue Gaffarel, 21000, Dijon, France; Laboratoire EA 4268 4IS, université de Franche-Comté, place Saint-Jacques, 35000, Besançon, France. Electronic address: narcisse.zwetyenga@chu-dijon.fr.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zwetyenga
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et stomatologie, centre François-Xavier Michelet, CHU de Bordeaux, 33076, Bordeaux cedex, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Audion
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et stomatologie, centre François-Xavier Michelet, CHU de Bordeaux, 33076, Bordeaux cedex, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gardet
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et stomatologie, centre François-Xavier Michelet, CHU de Bordeaux, 33076, Bordeaux cedex, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siberchicot
mesh_terms: D000235:Adenolymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Flap; Frey's syndrome; Lambeau; Muscle sterno-cléido-mastoïdien; Parotidectomie; Parotidectomy; Quality of life; Qualité de vie; Sternocleidomastoid muscle; Syndrome de Frey