[Treatment of the facial nerve and the neck in malignant parotid gland tumors]

Tumori. 2003 Jul-Aug;89(4 Suppl):257-9.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

In the surgery of malignancies of the parotid gland the management of the facial nerve and of the neck is very important. In fact, many authors declared as the surgery of parotid gland can be considered as the surgery of facial nerve and others underlined the role of the neck management in a complete treatment of these neoplasms. The features of 47 cases of parotid gland neoplasms observed at the National Cancer Institut of Naples (Naples, Italy) are reported. In all cases a total parotidectomy was performed with neck dissection in case of neck metastases or electively in selected cases and resection of the facial nerve only in case of macroscopic tumor involvement. Radiotherapy was administrated in case of involvement of the facial nerve, and/or of the skin and/or of multiple neck metastases. The results of our experience emphasize as the neoplasms of the parotid gland can be treated sparing the facial nerve when it is clearly not involved without making worse prognosis; on the other side planing a neck dissection should be mandatory in case of high degree malignancies, and/or of tumors larger than T2, and/or of involvement of the facial nerve, and/or of the skin and/or cervical lymph nodes.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma / radiotherapy
  • Carcinoma / surgery*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Facial Nerve / pathology
  • Facial Nerve / surgery*
  • Facial Nerve Injuries / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Complications / prevention & control
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neck Dissection / methods*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Parotid Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Parotid Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Retrospective Studies