title: Feasibility of using the retroauricular approach without endoscopic or robotic assistance for excision of benign neck masses.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to present our evaluation of the feasibility of using a retroauricular approach for excision of benign upper neck mass lesions without assistance of an endoscopic or robotic system.
  
  
  
  We enrolled 23 patients with benign neck mass lesions of the parotid gland, submandibular gland, and the level II/III region who underwent surgery via a retroauricular approach.
  
  
  
  In 22 of 23 patients (95.7%), parotidectomies, submandibular gland resections, and mass excisions were successfully completed under direct vision, without endoscopic or robotic assistance. Mean operation time, drainage amount, and drainage duration were 99.1 minutes, 44.3 mL, and 2.9 days, respectively. For a total of 23 patients, the mean visual analog scale score for subjective satisfaction with the incision scar was 8.9. No serious or permanent complications occurred.
  
  
  
  Excision using a retroauricular approach under direct vision is technically feasible for many benign mass lesions of the parotid gland, submandibular gland, and levels II/III of the neck region. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 748-753, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Dongbin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Gil Joon
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Ha
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015331:Cohort Studies; D054644:Ear Auricle; D004724:Endoscopy; D004954:Esthetics; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D061646:Operative Time; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D056888:Patient Positioning; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012371:Robotics; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: brachial cleft anomaly; cosmetic; neck; salivary gland neoplasm; surgery