Comparative outcomes of extracapsular dissection and superficial parotidectomy

Background: Retrospective analysis of extracapsular dissection (ECD) and superficial parotidectomy (SP). Aims/objectives: Comparing the outcomes of ECD and SP in surgery of benign parotid masses. Material and methods: Total of 136 patients included in the study. The inclusion criteria were pathologically proven benign FNA biopsy, lack of deep lobe invasion and single tumour diameter lower than 4 cm, absence of radiologically and clinically malignant lesion and facial paralysis at the time of diagnosis. Objectives: Drain volumes and seroma presence, clinical evaluation of face nerve function; signs of infective complications were collected from patients' clinic chart. Complications and recurrence rates were obtained from follow-up forms. Results: The mean follow-up period was 42.53 +/- 14.88 months. In SP group, three patients with disease recurrence were found, 8 (10.2%) had early facial nerve paralysis (grade 2 and 3) and 11 (14.1%) had Frey's syndrome. No postoperative complication, early facial paralysis and recurrence were observed in ECD group.