Study of salivary gland tumors and its management outcome in tertiary care hospital in Chennai

Abstract

Background: Salivary gland tumors can arise from either the major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular and sublingual) or the minor salivary glands which are located throughout the submucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract. They can show a striking range of morphological diversity between different tumor types and sometimes within an individual tumor mass. Aim of the study was to study the role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of salivary gland tumors.Methods: This study was conducted comprising 34 patients attending the department of general surgery at Rajiv Gandhi government general hospital, MMC from January 2019 to December 2020 period of 24 months. A standard protocol was followed consisting of detailed history and physical examination, radiological evaluation followed by fine needle cytological examination. Histopathological examination was done in all the excised tumors for final diagnosis.Results: FNAC was done only in 20 out of 29 parotid tumors of which 12 were benign, 5 were malignant and 3 were inconclusive. In the present study superficial parotidectomy was done in 24 cases. Total parotidectomy was done in 3 out of 5 cases. Two patients refused surgery. Following surgery, 5 patients developed transient facial nerve paralysis and one patient developed permanent facial nerve paralysisConclusions: In tumors of the parotid gland, post-operative facial nerve palsy was rarely noticed. The best means of reducing iatrogenic facial nerve injury in parotid surgery remains an understanding of the anatomy coupled with a gentle technique.