The clinical experience of partial superficial parotidectomy in the treatment of parotid pleomorphic adenoma

Objective To evaluate and compare the clinical results of partial superficial parotidectomy and superficial parotidectomy. Methods 90 patients who underwent excision of the parotid pleomorphic adenoma between 1999 and 2007 were reviewed. 44 patients underwent partial superficial parotidectomy and 46 patients received superficial parotidectomy. All patients were followed up for 2～9 years. Results The incidence of surgical complications (facial paralysis, Frey syndrome and salivary fistula) were lower in partial superficial parotidectomy group than that in superficial parotidectomy group, but the recurrence rate was not significantly different between the two surgical modalities. Conclusions Partial superficialparotidectomy could retain more parotid gland tissue, had less complications and might be the first choice for the treatment of parotid pleomorphic adenoma.