Minimally invasive endoscopic resection of benign tumours of the accessory parotid gland: an updated approach

Abstract

The most common conventional approaches for the resection of benign tumours in the accessory parotid gland are a standard parotidectomy incision, a modified standard parotidectomy incision, or a face-lift incision. The resulting scars may severely affect the patient's postoperative appearance. The previously reported endoscopically assisted approach offers a less aesthetically invasive technique, but it may still leave a visible preauricular scar 4–5cm long. We have used a modified endoscopic approach with minimal, and concealed, incisions for the resection of benign tumours in the accessory parotid gland. Five patients were diagnosed by physical examination, imaging, and preoperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy. They had endoscopically assisted resections using our modified approach, and we evaluated its feasibility. All the resections were successful. The mean operating time was 108min (range 90–130). The postoperative scars were concealed and aesthetically satisfactory. There were no facial paralyses, salivary fistulas, or recurrences in the short term. Using endoscopically assisted resection we completely removed benign tumours from the accessory parotid gland and obtained good aesthetic results. Our updated endoscopic approach for these resections is successful with shorter, concealed incisions. It is a viable alternative to conventional approaches.