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Published on: August 15, 2025
Total versus superficial parotidectomy for stage III melanoma
Aileen P Wertz1, Alison B Durham2, Kelly M Malloy1
1Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Background:
The primary purpose of this study was to describe the parotid recurrence rates after superficial and total parotidectomy.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients with cutaneous melanoma metastatic to the parotid gland who underwent parotidectomy from 1998 through 2014. Primary outcome was parotid bed recurrence. Secondary outcomes were facial nerve function postoperatively and at last follow-up.
Results:
One hundred twenty-nine patients were included in the study. Thirty-four patients (26%) underwent a total parotidectomy and 95 patients underwent superficial parotidectomy. Twelve patients (13%) developed parotid bed recurrence after superficial parotidectomy alone versus zero after total parotidectomy (P = .035). Facial nerve function, clinically detected disease, stage, and adjuvant treatment were not statistically different between the groups (P = .32, .32, .13, and 0.99, respectively).
Conclusion:
Parotid bed melanoma recurrence was more common after superficial parotidectomy compared to total parotidectomy, and recurrence resulted in significant facial nerve functional deficit. Our results support total parotidectomy when metastatic melanoma involves the parotid nodal basin.
