Novice's Sojourn to Parotid Surgery

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Head and Neck Surgery
• Pathology

Background:

• Salivary gland tumors are rare, representing less than 3% of head and neck neoplasms.
• Pleomorphic adenoma is the most frequent benign salivary gland tumor, comprising 60-80% of cases.
• These tumors predominantly occur in the parotid gland's superficial lobe and are characterized by epithelial and connective tissue origins.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a series of 10 pleomorphic adenoma cases affecting the parotid gland.
• To highlight the surgical management and prognosis of these common salivary gland tumors.
• To emphasize the importance of facial nerve preservation during parotidectomy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series analysis of 10 patients with pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland.
• Surgical procedures included superficial or total parotidectomy.
• Clinical data and surgical outcomes were reviewed over a two-year period.

Main Results:

• Pleomorphic adenomas presented as solitary, unilateral, slow-growing masses.
• The tumors showed a female predilection, typically affecting women aged 30-50.
• Surgical management focused on complete tumor excision with emphasis on facial nerve integrity.

Conclusions:

• Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign tumor of the salivary glands, particularly the parotid gland.
• Surgical excision is the primary treatment, with facial nerve preservation being critical.
• The prognosis following appropriate surgical management is generally favorable.