[Thirteen years' experience with superficial partial parotidectomy as treatment for benign parotid tumours]

Most authors agree that surgery is the treatment of choice for benign tumours of the parotid gland. However, the best surgical technique and the extent of surgery remain controversial. This study attempts to establish whether the implementation of a partial superficial parotidectomy (PSP) is appropriate for the treatment of benign parotid gland tumours.

We selected 63 patients with benign parotid gland surgery, of whom 43 had a pleomorphic adenoma and 20, a Warthin tumour. Of this group of 63 patients, 6 could not be included. We consequently studied 57 patients, 41 of them diagnosed as pleomorphic adenoma and 16, as Warthin tumours. In all of them, a PSP was performed without intraoperative monitoring of the facial nerve.

Transient facial nerve paralysis, 14 patients (24.5%). Ten cases were resolved within the first month after surgery and 4 before the third month, after indicating facial physiotherapy. One patient (1.7%) had a permanent difficulty in keeping one side of the lower lip aligned under pressure-mobility, without altering commissure mobility. None of the patients studied had a recurrence (control, 3-13 years).

Although PSP is a technique with a few complications, it has a recurrence rate comparable to or lower than other techniques used for the treatment of pleomorphic adenomas or Warthin parotid tumours. Intraoperative facial nerve monitoring can be helpful during surgery. The lack of monitoring would not be considered a contraindication for surgery.