Parotid tumors: a 10-year experience

Lin, Ching-Chia; Tsai, Ming-Hsui; Huang, Chiu-Chen; Hua, Chun-Hung; Tseng, Hsian-Chang; Huang, Shih-Tzu

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2007.03.002

« Previous Next »American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 29, Issue 2 , Pages 94-100, March 2008

Parotid tumors: a 10-year experience

Ching-Chia Lin, MD
- Department of Otolaryngology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
Ming-Hsui Tsai, MD
- Department of Otolaryngology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Corresponding author. Department of Otolaryngology, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung 404, Taiwan, R.O.C. Tel.: +886 4 22052121 4436; fax: +886 4 22052121 4438.
Chiu-Chen Huang, PhD
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
Chun-Hung Hua, MD
- Department of Otolaryngology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
Hsian-Chang Tseng, MD
- Department of Otolaryngology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
Shih-Tzu Huang, PhD
- School of Nursing, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Received 30 January 2007

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to analyze the clinical presentation, histopathology, and complications of parotid tumors, as well as the management of malignant parotid tumors.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 271 patients who underwent parotidectomy from August 1996 to July 2006. Data including age, sex, clinical signs and symptoms, histologic findings, complications, malignant tumor stage, and prognosis were collected from medical charts.

Results

Of the 271 patients who underwent parotidectomy, 229 (85%) had benign tumors, 33 (12%) had malignant tumors, and 9 had chronic inflammatory disease (3%). The most common benign tumor was pleomorphic adenoma (51%), and the most common malignant tumor was mucoepidermoid carcinoma (3%). The 5-year overall survival rate was 42%, and the disease-specific survival rate for malignant tumor was 72%. Only disease stage was the statistically significant prognostic factor of malignancy. The most common complication of parotidectomy was transient facial palsy (18%).

Conclusions

Standardized superficial and total parotidectomy are safe procedures for treating parotid tumors. Management of malignant tumors depends on tumor stage and histologic grade. Advanced tumor stage is a predictor of poor outcome.