Long term quality of life in pediatric patients surviving parotid tumors

Objective: To evaluate the long term quality of life in pediatric patients who have survived parotid tumors. Methods: A quality of life instrument, based on the principles of the University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire, was specifically created for this study and sent to pediatric patients who had undergone a parotidectomy between 2000 and 2008. Results: The mean general health score was 3.45, which was deemed good to very good. The highest overall score in the group was 99.24. These results indicated that almost no patients complained of pain. Initially, 10 patients had reported that sensation was affected, but six of these cases recovered. Three (9.1%) patients reported a change in their appearance. Two patients (6.1%) reported surgical site depression and a further two (6.1%) reported scarring depression. Six (18.2%) patients reported facial nerve impairment during the early postoperative period, and four of these cases recovered. Two patients reported fistula during the early postoperative period, and but the symptoms were resolved after intervention. Frey's syndrome was reported by three (9.1%) patients. Conclusion: Parotidectomy has a limited negative impact on pediatric patients' quality of life. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.