Safety of Extracapsular Dissection in Benign Superficial Parotid Lesions

Introduction

The current practice for removal of clinically benign superficial parotid lesions is an appropriate superficial parotidectomy with a cuff of normal parotid tissue for complete pathological clearance. This technique requires the identification of the facial nerve at the main trunk and dissection of the segment of the facial nerve deep to the lesion. The reported major complications of this procedure include temporary or permanent facial nerve weakness, Frey??s syndrome and salivary leaks. In order to avoid these complications, a local extracapsular dissection technique can be utilised in the management of small inferiorly located benign lesions of the parotid gland.

Methods

A retrospective case note review was performed for all parotidectomies between 2004 and 2009 in Addenbrooke??s Hospital, Cambridge by the senior authors.

Results

A total of 172 cases were identified out which 46 underwent an extracapsular dissection. The average size of these lesions was 1.9?cm (0.9?C2.4?cm) with all universally located inferior or posterior to the angle of the mandible. The pathologies were 14 pleomorphic adenomas, 24 Warthin??s tumours, 6 lymphangiomas and 2 simple cysts. There were no post-operative facial nerve weaknesses, Frey??s syndrome or salivary leaks within the extracapsular dissection group. The median follow-up of these patients were 4.6?years (2?C6?years) with 6 patients lost to follow-up. No recurrences have been noted in the cohort at follow-up.     

Management of malignant parotid tumors

Introduction

The aims of this study were to review our experience in the treatment of malignant parotid tumors in material from one center over a 12-year period and to assess treatment outcome and particularly survival.

Materials and methods

Thirty-one patients treated primarily by surgery were included in the study. Complete data regarding the demographic details of the patients, tumor stage, presence of regional/distant metastases, treatment, tumor histology, grade, and follow up were compiled. With reference to the extent of tissue removed, partial superficial parotidectomy was performed in 11 patients, superficial parotidectomy, in 14 patients, and total radical parotidectomy, in six patients.

Results

The median time of follow-up was 64?months, ranging from 8 to 144?months. Eight patients developed recurrences. Six patients died within the follow-up time. The overall survival rates at 5 and 10?years were 82.2% and 76.7%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year disease-free survival rates were 74.8% and 69.8%, respectively.

Discussion

For patients with malignant parotid tumors, the treatment should be individualized according to the findings of each specific case, and regarding surgery, particular care and attention should be paid to maintaining all or part of the facial nerve whenever possible.     

Complicated Giant Pilomatrixoma of the Parotid Region

Objective

Pilomatrixoma (calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe) is a benign soft tissue tumour arising from dermis or subcutaneous tissue which should be considered in differential diagnosis of preauricular lesions especially when skin fixation is present.

Case Report

Twenty-three year old male referred to our clinic with complaint of left preauricular swelling over 18 months which enlarged and became painful in the last 2 months. Because the lesion showed signs of infection, surgery was planned after medical therapy was completed. FNAB suggest pleomorphic adenoma as preliminary diagnosis. US or MRI showed no specific feature.

Treatment and Prognosis

Total excision, superficial parotidectomy with facial nerve sparing was performed after regression of infectious signs. Postoperatively no recurrence was detected.

Conclusion

Pilomatrixomas are benign tumours but have diagnostic difficulties according to clinical and cytologic findings. This rare lesion should be kept in mind to avoid misdiagnosis as malign parotid tumours, particularly in the presence of skin change.

     

Contemporary management of benign parotid tumours – the increasing evidence for extracapsular dissection

Benign parotid tumours have historically often been managed surgically by superficial parotidectomy. While this approach usually gives a generous cuff of surrounding normal parotid tissue to increase tumour margins, it requires a much larger incision than the increasingly used extracapsular dissection (ECD) technique. Furthermore, superficial parotidectomy can result in marked facial hollowing, Frey syndrome and an increased risk of both temporary and permanent facial nerve weakness. ECD has been popularised as a safe alternative to parotidectomy primarily for the removal of mobile, benign parotid tumours with safe outcomes and reduced risk to the facial nerve. In this article, we review the growing body of evidence for ECD and include our own experience confirming the move away from superficial parotidectomy in contemporary practice for the treatment of benign parotid tumours.     

Management of parapharyngeal giant pleomorphic adenoma

Introduction

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is found rarely in the parapharyngeal space (PPS). Because of late diagnosis due to slow growth, close proximity to vital neurovascular structures and risks of surgery, it poses a great difficulty for both diagnosis and surgical management. The preferred surgical approach to the PPS is the cervical?Ctransparotid including a total parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation combined with a cervical access for dissection of cranial nerves and vascular structures thus allowing a safe removal of the tumor together with the parotid deep lobe. We report herein our experience in the management of giant PAs involving the prestyloid PPS and describe a not well-documented transparotid route by preservation of the parotid superficial lobe in combination with an intraoral approach.

Patients and methods

In this retrospective study, three cases of patients having giant PAs involving the PPS are evaluated. All patients had signs of foreign body sensation in the throat and a growing mass bulging in the oropharynx. Diagnosis was based on MRI and upon preoperative intraoral biopsy. The average tumor size was 5.7?cm. Patients underwent surgery and excision of tumors via transparotid?Cintraoral approach. In two cases, the superficial lobe was preserved and afterwards put back in its anatomic location.

Results

All patients were discharged without complications, and no recurrences were observed.

Conclusions

Preoperative diagnosis management of PPS giant tumors should be based on imaging and upon open transoral biopsy if possible. The transparotid?Cintraoral approach provided adequate visibility to remove large PAs involving the prestyloid PPS.     

Extra-capsular dissection for benign parotid tumours

The most common benign tumour of the parotid is pleomorphic adenoma (PA). Some studies have shown that limited surgery to manage these types of tumours is viable option. Extra-capsular dissection (ECD) is one of these minimally invasive techniques. This study aimed to evaluate the morbidity associated with ECD in managing benign parotid tumours and to demonstrate that the technique can be used outside specialist centres. Twenty-six consecutive patients, diagnosed with benign parotid gland tumours were treated by ECD. Their benign status was determined by history, clinical criteria and fine needle aspiration cytology. Inclusion criteria were a discrete mobile lump, more than 3 cm in diameter and clinical/histological evidence of benign biological behaviour. A single surgeon (the author) operated on all cases. Follow up ranged from 2 to 72 months. In 23 patients, the tumour was located entirely within the superficial lobe of the parotid. Postoperative pathology consisted mainly of 17 PA. Fifteen percent had transient damage to the facial nerve. None had recurrence. ECD seems to be an alternative to superficial parotidectomy for most superficial parotid lumps. It appears to be a safe technique in trained hands.     

Techniques for dissection of the facial nerve in benign parotid surgery: a cross specialty survey of oral and maxillofacial and ear nose and throat surgeons in the UK

We investigated techniques of dissection of the facial nerve currently being used in parotid surgery for benign disease in oral and maxillofacial (OMF) and ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery. A postal questionnaire was sent to 300 OMF and 300 ENT consultants and 49% were returned(171(57%) OMF and 123 (41%) ENT. The antegrade technique was used routinely by 209 surgeons (87%), the retrograde technique by 9 (4%), and both techniques combined by 21 surgeons (9%). The antegrade technique was used by 135 surgeons (56%) for revision parotidectomy, by 193 (81%) for limited superficial parotidectomy, by 173 (72%) for obese patients with large tumours and by 75 (31%) for injury to the facial nerve. The retrograde technique was used by 21 surgeons (9%) for revision parotidectomy, by 22 (9%) for limited superficial parotidectomy, by 15 (6%) for obese patients with large tumours and by 29 surgeons (12%) for injury to the facial nerve. A combination of techniques was chosen by 83 surgeons (35%) in revision parotidectomy, by 24 surgeons (10%) in limited superficial parotidectomy, by 51 surgeons (21%) in obese patients with large tumours and by (56%) surgeons 135 for injury to the facial nerve.     

Expression of podoplanin in Warthin tumours

Purpose

Warthin tumour is the second most common benign tumour of the parotid gland. This study was designed to investigate the lymphatic vessels in Warthin tumours in an effort to understand better its pathogenesis.

Materials and methods

Tissue specimens of 31 patients (19 men and 11 women; mean age 57 years, median size of the tumours 2.86 cm) were analysed by means of immunohistochemistry applying the monoclonal antibody D2-40.

Results

We found numerous D2-40-positive sinus-like vessels particularly at the inner layer of the capsule.

Conclusions

Since subcapsular sinuses are a major morphological feature of lymph nodes in general, the finding of podoplanin expression in the large majority of subcapsular vessels in Warthin tumours confirms the view that this tumour has its origin in regional lymph nodes.     

Salivary gland carcinomas

Introduction

Salivary gland carcinomas are rare tumours of heterogeneous morphology that require distinctive surgical and adjuvant therapy.

Methods

Relevant studies were electronically searched in PubMed and reviewed for innovative and important information.

Results

Recent insights in genetic alterations like chromosomal aberrations, expression of receptor tyrosine kinases, malfunction of tumour suppressor genes or DNA promoter methylations increased the knowledge about aetiology and pathogenesis. New histological subtypes are recognised, and a three-tiered grading system seems reasonable. Ultrasound remains the basic diagnostic imaging procedure. New developments comprise the diffusion-weighed magnetic resonance imaging, while fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography shows good diagnostic accuracy in detecting distant metastases and local recurrence. Fine-needle aspiration cytology helps in differentiating a neoplasia from a non-neoplastic lesion while being unreliable in recognising malignancy. In contrast, additional core needle biopsy and/or intraoperative frozen section diagnosis increase the accuracy in diagnosing a malignant lesion. Conservative parotid surgery with nerve monitoring remains state-of-the-art. Free flaps or musculoaponeurotic flaps are proposed for prevention of Frey??s syndrome. As parotid cancer often shows skip metastases, complete ipsilateral neck dissection (level I?CV) is indicated particularly in high-grade lesions. Adjuvant radio(chemo)therapy increases local tumour control, whereas overall survival is not necessarily improved. Current results of systemic chemotherapy or targeted therapy in advanced tumour stages are disappointing.

Conclusion

Despite several developments, salivary gland carcinomas remain a heterogeneous group of tumours challenging both pathologists and clinicians.     

Superficial parotidectomy: technical modifications based on tumour characteristics

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the adequacy of partial superficial parotidectomy and tumour enucleation in the surgical management of patients with pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 62 patients were treated for pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid during the years 1995-1999; 17 patients were treated with conventional superficial parotidectomy, whereas 42 patients were subjected to partial superficial parotidectomy. In three patients, tumour size and facial nerve proximity essentially resulted in enucleation of the parotid mass. In partial superficial parotidectomy, only the tumour-bearing area of the gland parenchyma was excised with identification of the main trunk and preservation of the facial nerve division that was adjacent to the tumour site with no need for more extensive facial nerve dissection. RESULTS: There was no incidence of recurrence or facial nerve injury in our group of patients. The incidence of Frey's syndrome was 4.8%.     

Tumour recurrence after surgical removal of parotid pleomorphic salivary adenoma using a retrograde facial nerve dissection technique

Recurrence after surgical removal of parotid pleomorphic salivary adenoma using retrograde facial nerve dissection is not well researched. We adopted retrograde nerve dissection for parotid surgery for benign disease as a standard procedure in 1995. The objective of this study was to establish the rate of recurrence of primary tumours associated with the technique after removal of parotid pleomorphic salivary adenoma. We recruited 59 patients over a 16-year (1995-2011) period and collected the data prospectively. Eight patients were excluded as they had died or had been lost to follow up. Male:female ratio was 16:35 and age range was 15-69 years. The mean tumour size as measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was 27.4mm. Thirty-eight patients had superficial parotidectomy, 8 had total parotidectomy, and 5 had partial superficial parotidectomy. Mean follow up from the date of operation was 104 months (median 98, range 17-171). All patients were reviewed and examined in 2011 to establish whether the tumour had recurred. One patient had developed a solitary nodular recurrence 8 years after the initial procedure. Recurrence was 2%. The rate of clinically apparent recurrence after parotidectomy for pleomorphic salivary adenoma in this study is low and is comparable with others reported.     

Patterns and surgical significance of facial nerve branching within the parotid gland in 43 cases

Purpose

Different patterns of facial nerve branching within the parotid gland were detected, and these anatomical variations may affect the treatment approaches and outcomes of surgery. The aim of this study was to identify the patterns of facial nerve branching with the parotid gland and their importance in surgical procedures.

Materials and methods

A total of 43 patients undergoing surgical treatments of parotid lesions were included in this study. Each patient’s demographic data and type of operation were recorded. In addition, the courses of the facial nerve within the gland were classified into six types according to their branching patterns and communication.

Results

In all of the patients, the facial nerve consisted of one trunk separated into two divisions. Branching type III was the most common variety found (30.2 %) followed by type II (23.2 %), while type V represented the least frequent pattern (4.6 %).

Conclusion

It is essential for surgeons to become familiar with the different types of nerve morphologies in order to avoid morbidity and preserve the facial nerve during surgery. Variations and anastomosis can explain the different consequences of facial nerve injury that may occur after parotid surgery.

     

腮腺区良性肿瘤术后并发症发生的相关因素分析

目的： 探讨腮腺良性肿瘤术后各类并发症发生的相关因素。方法：搜集并整理我院2010—2015年手术治疗的215例腮腺良性肿瘤患者的病例资料,回顾分析一般资料、手术治疗中不同因素及术后并发症的发生情况。采用SPSS17.0软件包对资料进行χ2检验。结果：术后积涎或涎瘘、面神经功能障碍及Frey综合征的发生与手术治疗中不同因素（手术切口、术中是否缝扎腺体残端、面神经解剖方式、手术切除范围及是否行胸锁乳突肌瓣转移修复等）之间具有显著相关性（P＜0.05）。结论：“N”形切口在解剖形态上不利于术后常规引流渗出液,需配合负压引流管,以减少术后积涎的发生。缝扎腺体残端能有效避免术后积涎及涎瘘的发生。顺行法解剖面神经及腮腺肿瘤区域性切除能加快手术速度,减少面神经的解剖量及暴露时间,从而减轻术后面神经功能障碍的发生。胸锁乳突肌瓣的转移修复能很好避免术后Frey综合征的发生。     

A multicentre retrospective clinico-histopathological review of 250 patients after parotidectomy

A clinicopathological review of parotid tumours treated surgically in two oral and maxillofacial surgery departments was conducted. The performance of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was also assessed. This retrospective study included 250 consecutive patients treated surgically for parotid gland-related tumours. Benign tumours (n = 211, 84.4%) were more prevalent than malignancies (n = 39, 15.6%). A predominance of pleomorphic adenoma (48.8%) was identified, and epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (3.6%) was the most common malignant tumour. Overall, the sensitivity and specificity of FNAC were 64% and 99%, respectively. Subgrouping resulted in sensitivity and specificity of 50% and 100% for clinically assisted FNAC versus, 72% and 99% for ultrasound guidance. Surgically, 31.6% underwent complete superficial parotidectomy and 28.4% underwent extracapsular dissection. Overall, facial nerve palsy was the most prevalent postoperative complication, affecting 29.2% (70/240); loss of function was transient in 21.2% (51/240) and permanent in 7.9% (19/240). Extracapsular dissection and superficial parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation were the treatments of choice when a benign tumour was suspected. Facial nerve palsy was quite frequent; treatment options however are scarce. Preoperative diagnostic workup using imaging and ultrasound-guided FNAC was essential in identifying malignancy so that surgical planning could be adapted.     

Frey-Syndrom nach lateraler Parotidektomie

Background: Gustatory sweating is a common complication of parotid surgery.¶Patients and methods: In order to evaluate the incidence of Frey’s syndrome following superficial parotidectomy, 69 patients who underwent surgery due to adenoma were studied. Forty-three patients (62%) suffered from gustatory sweating following superficial parotidectomy, and 33 of them requested treatment. Nineteen patients felt that their quality of life had been decreased by the symptoms. Results: Minor’s starch iodine test proved that 85% of the patients who did not notice Frey’s syndrome after surgery actually had a subclinical manifestation. Eight patients were successfully treated with intracutaneous injections of botulinum toxin A. Within 1 week gustatory sweating disappeared. Conclusion: Frey’s syndrome is present in almost all patients following superficial parotidectomy and there is a strong need for treatment. Intracutaneous injection of botulinum toxin A is an effective treatment in severe cases of the syndrome.     

腮腺浅叶肿瘤切除术中腮腺主导管存留的临床评价

日的:评价腮腺浅叶肿瘤切除术中腮腺主导管保留的临术效果.方法:对66例临床诊断为腮腺浅叶良性肿瘤的病例,作解剖和保存面神经及腮腺主导管,切除腮腺浅叶及其肿瘤术.结果:(1)术后无肿瘤复发,(2)术侧无明显凹陷性畸形,(3)术后涎瘘明显减少.结论:腮腺主导管及其深叶的保留与肿瘤复发无关,该术式适应腮腺浅叶及峡部的良性肿瘤.     

Usefulness of fine-needle aspiration in parotid diagnostics

Purpose

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a safe diagnostic technique that is widely employed for lesions of the head and neck. Among head and neck sites, the parotid gland is unique in the number, diversity, and peculiarity of its pathological processes. This complexity has prompted a great deal of discussion regarding the application of FNA to parotid masses, primarily focusing on the reliability of FNA as a diagnostic tool in guiding patient management.

Methods

This review presents an analysis of the usefulness of FNA in differential diagnosis of parotid pathologies.

Results

Recent studies have confirmed a wide range of accuracy rates for FNA evaluation of parotid masses, varying from 79% to 97%. These data cannot be uniformly anticipated across all diagnostic scenarios. FNA is notoriously unreliable in recognising the malignant nature of parotid carcinoma providing its precise classification and establishing its grade. A few malignant neoplasms are particularly prone to diagnostic error: acinic cell carcinoma is frequently interpreted as benign, and low-grade lymphomas are often discounted as inflammatory processes.

Conclusions

FNA cytology is useful in avoiding surgery (inflammatory lesions) or limiting surgical procedures (benign tumours). For planning the extent of surgery of malignant parotid tumours, the histological subtype and/or grade should be determined; therefore, a histological diagnosis by frozen section analysis is required. Moreover, reliance on FNA findings at the expense of clinical, radiographic, and intraoperative findings is unwarranted. Regardless of whether FNA is used routinely or selectively in patients with parotid masses, the findings should contribute to, and not replace, the overall diagnostic impression.     

Increased local recurrence in advanced parotid malignancy treated with mastoidectomy without lateral temporal bone resection

Objective

We analyzed patients with advanced parotid malignancy requiring proximal facial nerve exposure undergoing mastoidectomy versus lateral temporal bone resection to determine differences in local and distant recurrence.

Study design

The study design is a case series with chart review.

Setting

The setting is in Tertiary care practice in Fort Worth, Texas from January1998 to January 2014.

Subjects and methods

The study included 120 patients with advanced parotid malignancy, 82 males between 19 and 87 years, and 38 females between 26 and 83 years. Patients with no overt bone involvement were treated with parotidectomy and mastoidectomy for exposure of the proximal facial nerve, and patients with clinically suspected (radiographic imaging or clinical fixation) bone involvement were treated with parotidectomy and lateral temporal bone resection. Follow up ranged from a minimum of 18 months to 11 years following surgery.

Results

Sixty patients were treated with mastoidectomy and 60 were treated with lateral temporal bone resection. In patients treated with mastoidectomy, 13 had local recurrence and 7 had distal recurrence. In patients treated with lateral temporal bone resection, 2 had local recurrence while 9 had distant recurrence. Statistical analysis revealed that patients treated with mastoidectomy developed local recurrence (p = 0.0022) more commonly than those treated with lateral temporal bone resection. There was no significant difference in distant recurrence between both groups (p = 0.5949).

Conclusions

Patients with advanced parotid malignancy should be treated aggressively with parotidectomy and lateral temporal bone resection regardless of bone involvement due to increased risk of local recurrence in those treated with mastoidectomy alone.

Level of evidence

Level of evidence is a 4 case series.

     

内镜辅助下腮腺切除术14例报道

目的：探讨内镜辅助下进行腮腺手术切除的临床效果。方法：对2004年10月-2006年9月就诊的15例腮腺肿物住院患者采用无注气内镜辅助下腮腺切除手术。通过耳垂后下方皮纹小切口，在颈深筋膜浅层，采用高频超声刀切割分离，远端借助监视器锐性分离，暴露腮腺浅叶。内镜下解剖面神经主干及分支，超声刀切除腮腺，伤口负压引流。结果：耳垂后下方切口长4．0—5．4cm，平均4．8cm。手术麻醉时间平均115min。腮腺浅叶切除3例，部分腮腺浅叶切除11例。术后病理诊断为多形性腺瘤8例，Warthin瘤4例，淋巴上皮病1例，淋巴结反应性增生1例。随诊6～31个月，平均14个月。面神经轻度麻痹5例，均在6个月内恢复正常。结论：内镜辅助下腮腺切除手术适用于腮腺浅叶良性肿瘤的切除，切口小且隐蔽，手术创伤小，有利于患者的恢复。     

Primary parapharyngeal tumours: a review of 21 cases

Background

The diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in a series of patients with primary parapharyngeal space (PPS) tumours treated at the ENT Departments of San Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Turin, and of the Pugliese-Ciaccio Hospital, Catanzaro, Italy, in the period 2001–2010 are evaluated.

Materials and methods

The retrospective review included 20 patients, 11 male and 9 female, average age of 41 years operated on for 21 primary PPS tumours. The most common tumours found were neurogenic neoplasms, while those of salivary origin were the next most common.

Results

There were 14 paragangliomas (7 originating from carotid glomus, 5 from vagal and 2 from tympanicum), 1 sympathetic chain schwannoma and 6 pleomorphic adenomas. All the tumours were benign in nature and gave rise to few signs or symptoms. Patients underwent preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or both. Most contrast-enhanced masses were submitted to some type of angiography. Most of the surgeries were planned through imaging alone, as preoperative fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy was performed only in six cases. Four different approaches were adopted for tumour removal: transcervical, transcervical/transparotid, cervical-transparotid-transmandibular and infratemporal fossa approach. There was no operative mortality, though neurologic morbidity was significant. Follow-up, extended to a maximum of 11 years, did not reveal any recurrences. In conclusion, neurogenic tumours may be the most common of PPS masses. Surgery is the mainstay treatment and external approaches offer the potential for satisfactory tumour resection. Of such external approaches, transcervical and cervical/transparotid are the most often used in benign forms.

Conclusion

The number of perioperative complications encountered in this series confirms the difficulty of performing surgery in this complex area, even in benign cases. The chances of avoiding vascular damage and saving the trunks or most of the nerve fibres involved depend not only on the skill and experience of the surgeon but also on the anatomy of the lesion, the type of connection between the tumour and the nerve from which it originates and the distribution of neural fibres in or around the tumour mass.