Superficial Parotidectomy Versus Partial Superficial Parotidectomy: A Comparison of Complication Rates, Operative...

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Oncology
• Head and Neck Surgery

Background:

• The optimal surgical approach for benign parotid tumors remains debated.
• Superficial parotidectomy (SP) and partial superficial parotidectomy (PSP) are common procedures.
• Comparing outcomes is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare operative time, hospital stay, and complication rates between SP and PSP for benign parotid tumors.
• To evaluate the recurrence rates for both surgical techniques.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 321 patients undergoing parotidectomy for benign tumors (2006-2014).
• Comparison of outcomes between superficial parotidectomy (SP) and partial superficial parotidectomy (PSP) groups.
• Statistical analysis using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney U, and chi-squared tests.

Main Results:

• Partial superficial parotidectomy (PSP) group had significantly shorter mean operative times (92.1 min vs 134.0 min) and hospital stays (4.8 days vs 6.7 days) compared to SP.
• PSP group exhibited lower overall complication rates (12.2% vs 21.6%).
• No significant difference in tumor recurrence rates was observed between the two groups.

Conclusions:

• Partial superficial parotidectomy (PSP) offers advantages over superficial parotidectomy (SP) in terms of reduced operative time, shorter hospital stay, and fewer complications.
• PSP is a viable and potentially preferable option for selected cases of benign parotid tumors.
• Further consideration of PSP in suitable benign parotid tumor cases is recommended.