Extracapsular dissection versus partial superficial parotidectomy for the treatment of benign parotid tumours

The purpose of this study was to compare the complications of patients treated for a benign parotid tumour (BPT) by extracapsular dissection (ECD) vs. partial superficial parotidectomy (PSP). A comprehensive literature investigation was conducted by searching electronic databases. A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies were performed to assess ECD and PSP for the treatment of BPTs with fixed-effects models. The outcomes analysed were transient or permanent facial nerve injury, Frey syndrome, recurrence rate, infection, and salivary fistula/sialocele. A total of 1641 patients from seven studies (1120 ECD-treated and 521 PSP-treated patients) were included in this meta-analysis. Transient facial nerve injury (odds ratio (OR) = 0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.11–0.71; p = 0.008) and Frey syndrome (OR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03–0.48; p = 0.003) were less prevalent in the ECD group. The rates of permanent facial nerve injury (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.35–1.70; p = 0.520), recurrence rate (OR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.02–1.75; p = 0.14), infection (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.07–6.67; p = 0.76), and salivary fistula/sialocele (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.06–2.66; p = 0.350) were similar in both groups. Although there was a trend that ECD showed a reduced risk for complications, the present results are not sufficient to conclude that ECD is more beneficial than PSP.