Evaluation of extracapsular dissection as sole treatment in carefully selected T1-T2 low-grade malignant tumors of the parotid gland

Introduction:

The aim of the study was to evaluate the oncologic and functional outcome after extracapsular dissection as sole form of treatment by carefully selected, T1-T2 low-grade malignant tumors of the parotid gland.

Methods:

All patients treated for small low-grade malignant tumors of the parotid gland primarily by means of extracapsular dissection between 2006 and 2015 were studied retrospectively.

Results:

A total of 38 cases formed out study sample (20 men, 18 women). Their mean age was 51.3 years (14 – 87 years). Mean follow-up was 4.6 years (0.25 – 12.1 years). The first 24 cases subsequently received a completion parotidectomy and ipsilateral neck dissection as a secondary procedure. The last 14 cases were treated solely by means of extracapsular dissection after thorough counselling of the patient. In the group of sole extracapsular dissection, five-year disease specific survival was 100% and local disease control was 100%, in the group of patients with completion surgery, five-year disease specific survival was 100% and local disease control was 94.7%. Statistical analysis of our data could detect a significantly worse temporary facial nerve function in the cases with completion surgery (p = 0.01) but no differences in the long-term (p = 0.692).

Conclusions:

Our study was able to show very encouraging preliminary results following primary extracapsular dissection as sole form of treatment for carefully selected low-stage, low-grade primary parotid malignancies.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)