Partial superficial parotidectomy for pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland: Early post-operative outcomes

INTRODUCTION

There has been historical controversy regarding the extent of resection in the management of pleomorphic adenomas. This study aims to evaluate the extent of surgery and short-term postoperative outcomes of partial superficial parotidectomy (PSP) for the management of pleomorphic adenomas at a tertiary, high-volume center.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent PSP was performed. Variables included demographics, pre-operative facial nerve function, operative techniques, postoperative complications/facial nerve function, and recurrence.

RESULTS

151 adults who underwent PSP for pleomorphic adenoma from January 1st, 2000 to December 31st, 2022 were identified. Median age was 55 (IQR 40-66) years with females representing 74 % of the cohort. Median tumor size at presentation was 1.8 (IQR 1.3-2.3) cm. Baseline facial nerve function was excellent for most patients (House-Brackmann I, 99 %). Most patients underwent a superficial inferior parotidectomy (88 %). Modified Blair incision (70 %) was the most common incision. Intraoperatively, the facial nerve was identified in 149 (99 %) patients. The main trunk was identified in 126 (85 %) patients. No patient had tumor spillage. Only two patients required parotid bed reconstruction. The most common complication was ear numbness (60 %). Postoperatively, 114 patients were House-Brackmann grade I at both preoperative and postoperative assessment, 8 went from grade I to II, and 1 went from grade VI to II (Bell's palsy that resolved to grade II following surgery). Median follow-up was 1(IQR 1-5) month.

CONCLUSION

PSP is efficacious in the management of pleomorphic adenomas with preservation of facial nerve function, and minimal post-operative complications. Future study is needed to assess long term recurrence risk.

Evaluation of functional and aesthetic outcomes of free dermal fat graft versus superficial musculoaponeurotic system flap after superficial parotidectomy: randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Parotidectomy is the standard procedure for treatment of many parotid lesions; however, it has several drawbacks. Facial asymmetry and Frey's syndrome are the most annoying complications to patients. Insertion of interpositioning grafts into the parotidectomy bed can decrease these complications significantly. Free dermal fat graft (FDFG) and superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) flap have very promising results. This RCT aimed to compare these two techniques regarding functional and aesthetic outcomes.

METHODS

Between February 2016 and October 2021, adult patients undergoing superficial conservative parotidectomy in a single centre for a benign indication were randomized into two equal groups using a closed envelope method. In one group, FDFG was inserted at the parotidectomy bed, whereas, in the other group, SMAS flap was performed. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative data were recorded and analysed. The primary outcome was the development of Frey's syndrome.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight patients were randomized into two equal groups of 39 patients. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding development of Frey's syndrome. There was no significant statistical difference between study groups regarding demographic data, co-morbidities, parotid pathologies, specimen volumes, total operating time, and postoperative complications. A tendency for over correction was observed in FDFG and under correction in SMAS flap. There was no statistically significant difference between the study groups regarding the patients' aesthetic satisfaction with the majority displaying excellent satisfaction with no poor results.

CONCLUSION

FDFG and SMAS flap are simple, rapid, and reliable procedures and are effective in improving both functional and aesthetic outcomes post-parotidectomy. They have comparable results; however, selection of either procedure can be determined according to patient and tumour characteristics. Registration number: NCT05452837 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Infrahyoid myofascial flap transfer for the prevention of concave deformity and gustatory sweating after parotidectomy

OBJECTIVE

Concave deformities and gustatory sweating are the most common complications that cause substantial patient dissatisfaction after parotidectomy. Various surgical methods to prevent these complications have been described. However, effective techniques have not been established, especially in patients with medium- to large-sized parotidectomy defects. We evaluated the utility of infrahyoid myofascial flap reconstruction of parotidectomy defects for the prevention of these complications.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective case series study in patients with a benign or malignant parotid tumor measuring over 4 cm who underwent immediate pedicle infrahyoid myofascial flap reconstruction after total or subtotal parotidectomy or total resection of either the superficial or deep parotid gland at our hospital. Subjective analyses of facial symmetry, postoperative concave deformities of the anterior neck, gustatory sweating, voice disorders, odynophagia, neck scarring in the parotid and anterior neck areas, sensory disorders, pain, and neck stiffness were performed using patient interview data. Objective evaluations of facial symmetry were made by the first or second author. Both analyses were performed after a follow-up of more than six months. Additionally, patient demographic data, clinicopathological factors, parotidectomy and skin incision types, flap survival, and postoperative complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

We included eight patients (male, n=5; mean age, 69.3 years [range, 37-93 years]). Procedures included total or subtotal parotidectomy (n=4), superficial lobe parotidectomy (n=2), and deep lobe parotidectomy with partial superficial lobe parotidectomy (n=2). Infrahyoid myofascial flaps reached the cranial tip of the parotid defect without tension, and their volume sufficiently filled the parotidectomy defect in all patients. There were no local signs of insufficient blood flow within the transferred flaps. OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE: assessments were made after a mean duration of 1.2 years (range, 0.6-1.8). Postoperatively, no patient subjectively reported facial asymmetry. Objectively, facial symmetry was "good" in four patients and "fair" in four patients. No distinctly visible concave deformity in the parotid or anterior neck area occurred in any patient. Gustatory sweating occurred in one patient; this individual had the largest parotidectomy defect. Only one patient experienced donor site morbidity (mild anterior neck stiffness) related to infrahyoid myofascial flap elevation.

CONCLUSION

Although complete prevention of gustatory sweating was unsuccessful, infrahyoid myofascial flap reconstruction of medium- to large-sized parotidectomy defects led to postoperative facial symmetry with minimal donor site morbidity.

Autologous Free Dermal-Fat-Fascial Graft for Parotidectomy Defects: A Case Series

Background:

Frey’s syndrome and facial asymmetry from loss of parotid tissue are long-term sequelae of parotid surgeries causing significant morbidity. Various techniques have been used to fill the parotidectomy defect, preserve facial contour symmetry, and prevent Frey’s syndrome. Free dermal-fat-fascial graft (DFFG) is one such technique; however, its use is largely undocumented in the literature. In this case series, we investigate the efficacy of free DFFG in reconstructing parotidectomy defects at 2 tertiary care centers.

Materials and methods:

Medical records of 54 patients who underwent primary parotidectomy and immediate reconstruction with autologous abdominal free DFFG by 2 surgeons in George Washington University Hospital and McGill University Health Centre between 2007 and 2019 were collected prospectively. Patients responded to 2 questionnaires addressing postoperative outcomes.

Results:

Fifty-four patients were included; 32 superficial parotidectomies and 22 total parotidectomies were performed for 39 benign and 15 malignant tumors. Thirty-seven patients could be reached. Out of 37 patients who responded to the first questionnaire, 59% (22) reported complete facial symmetry, 27% (10) reported mild hollowness, and 14% (5) reported mild fullness. None declared noticeable hollowness or fullness. While 81% (30) did not experience Frey’s syndrome, 5.4% (2) experienced mild symptoms without disability, and 13.5% (5) experienced debilitating symptoms. Out of 37 patients, 8 patients responded to a second questionnaire addressing the outcome of the abdominal graft donor site. In regard to the donor site, 87.5% (7) were satisfied or very satisfied from its cosmetic appearance, 75% (6) were not bothered by its cosmetic appearance, and 87.5% (7) had no discomfort at the graft donor site. Patients did not report any other symptom at the graft donor site.

Conclusion:

In this large series of total parotidectomies including malignant pathologies, autologous abdominal free DFFG effectively prevented Frey’s syndrome and preserved facial cosmesis in most patients.

Prevention of Frey's Syndrome with the Use of Porcine Dermal Collagen Graft: Retrospective Analysis of 76 "Formal" Parotidectomies for Benign Pathologies

BACKGROUND

Frey's syndrome is a well-known complication of parotid surgery; its prevention may be achieved by the use of an interpositional barrier between the overlying flaps and the exposed parenchymal bed of parotid gland. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate clinical outcomes with and without the interpositional placement of a porcine dermal collagen graft (PDCG) for prevention of syndrome occurrence.

METHODS

We conducted a 20-year retrospective study including the patients who had undergone "formal" (superficial, total, or subtotal) parotidectomies for benign pathologies. The inclusion criteria also involved patients that were (i) regularly monitored about clinical symptoms related to syndrome, and (ii) examined with Minor starch-iodine test. The severity of the diagnosed syndrome was retrospectively evaluated according to the grading score system of Luna-Ortiz. To assess group differences in terms of the extent of dissection in operating sites, we estimated the tumor and histological specimen volumes using the available dimensions.

RESULTS

We included 73 patients who had undergone 76 formal parotid surgeries. The surgical sites were divided into 2 groups: (1) Group A consisted of 44 sites that were reconstructed with a SMAS flap, and (2) Group B, comprised 32 sites where a PDCG was additionally applied as an artificial preventive barrier. At a mean follow-up of 26.3 months, a significantly lower incidence of clinically diagnosed Frey's syndrome was found after the use of dermal collagen interpositional barrier (P = .031). Specifically, subjective symptoms were reported at an incidence of 31.8% in Group A and 6.7% in Group B. Minor's test was positive at an incidence of 59.09% in Group A and 21.87% in Group B (P = .004, 95% CI). Severe Frey's syndrome was observed in 31.82% of the patients of Group A and in 3.12% of the patients of Group B (P = .002, 95% CI). Since there were no statistical significant differences between the volumes of the removed tumors and the excised histological specimens, the extent of dissection was not proved to influence the occurrence of Frey's syndrome in the compared groups.

CONCLUSION

Porcine dermal collagen is a safe, practical, and useful means for parotid reconstruction, since it seems to contribute in prevention of Frey's syndrome when increased amount of glandular tissue has to be removed. Additional randomized controlled studies with bigger samples are required to better assess the PDCG use in parotid surgery.