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.
