Background:
Parotid tumours are the most frequent salivary gland tumours, with malignant tumours representing only 1-5% of all head and neck tumours. For this reason, there is limited evidence and consensus to guide their optimal management. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment but the extent of resection is an ongoing topic of debate. The aim of this study was to assess the oncological and functional outcomes of total, subtotal and partial parotidectomy in a series of patients with primary parotid malignancy.
Methods:
A retrospective review was carried out of all the patients who underwent surgery for primary parotid malignancy in our institution from 2010 to 2023. Clinicopathological data was collected from a prospectively maintained database.
Results:
38 patients were found to have primary parotid malignancies. 15 patients were managed with total parotidectomy, 7 with subtotal parotidectomy and 16 with partial parotidectomy. 3 had local recurrence and 2 had recurrence in the form of distant metastases. Of these 5 patients, 3 had a total parotidectomy, 2 had a partial parotidectomy and all underwent neck dissection.
Conclusion:
Optimal surgical management of primary parotid malignancies remains a controversial topic. This study highlights that, in certain circumstances, it may be appropriate to perform limited parotidectomy. However, further research is needed on this subject.
Lee Peeperkorn1, Nicholas O’Keeffe1, Patrick Sheahan1,2
1 Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork
2 ENTO Research Unit, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Cork