Quality of life following surgical treatment of benign parotid disease

To evaluate the quality of life after surgery for benign neoplastic disease of the parotid gland. Forty-nine patients who underwent surgery for benign parotid disease between January 2004 and December 2008 were included in this retrospective study. EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires were used to determine the quality of life. The variables of these questionnaires were compared with age, gender, educational status, histopathologic diagnosis and Frey syndrome. A statistically significant correlation was noted between the female gender and post-surgical pain, sleeplessness and the use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference between age and difficulties in moving the mouth (p < 0.001). Frey syndrome related to social functions, economical difficulties, speech defect, reduced sexuality, and nutritional parameters were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001). Frey syndrome is the most common complication that affects the quality of life in patients who had parotidectomy due to a benign parotid disease. Therefore, all patients should be informed about Frey syndrome before parotidectomy.