Parotidectomy under microscope for benign parotid tumor

Abstract

Parotidectomy with preservation of facial nerve function is the standard treatment for tumors of the parotid gland. The main author routinely uses an operation microscope to confirm and follow the facial nerve for parotidectomy. We report the incidence of facial nerve dysfunction following microscopic parotidectomy. Materials were 13 patients (14 surgeries) with benign parotid tumor. All cases were primary operations. Tumor existed in the superficial lobe in 10 cases and in the deep lobe in 4 cases. The main trunk of the nerve was confirmed and its peripheral branches in the parotid gland were followed, and tumor with a cuff of normal surrounding tissue was removed under strict microscopic control. The mean operative time was 173 minutes. The operative time with tumor in the deep lobe was longer than that in the superficial lobe. Perioperative transient facial nerve dysfunction occurred in 2 cases (14%), which were cured within 3 months. There were no permanent cases. Parotidectomy under microscope may reduce the incidence of perioperative facial nerve dysfunction, but its operative time may be longer than that of parotidectomy without microscope.