Complications and recurrence of parotid pleomorphic adenoma after partial parotidectomy at Alzahra hospital

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The most common neoplasm of the salivary glands is pleomorphic adenoma and the most common complications of its surgical removal are facial nerve dysfunction (temporary or permanent) and auriculotemporal syndrome (Frey’s syndrome). One of the surgical techniques in pleomorphic adenoma is partial parotidectomy. The whole excised tumor is surrounded by a safety margin of parotid tissue. Several surgical techniques are used for this operation. In the analytical studies published for partial parotidectomy, we searched for the complication rates of this operation. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 59 patients with pleomorphic adenoma who underwent partial parotidectomy from 1994 to 2000 were selected and their clinical examinations and pathological files were evaluated at the Alzahra hospital which is affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. RESULTS: From the fifty nine patients, who were studied, 44.06% were male and 55.94% were female. The mean age at the time of the onset of symptoms was 37.18. One of the patients had a history of tumor recurrence. Four patients had temporary facial nerve paresis immediately after the surgery. One patient (1.69%) had a permanent facial nerve paralysis in one of the facial nerve subdivisions. Two patients (3.38%) had Frey’s syndrome. In 1 case (1.69%) there was a history of bleeding after the surgery. Two patients (3.38%) had wound infection. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with the superficial parotidectomy technique, the partial parotidectomy method indicates more satisfying results in regards to recurrence and complications.