Follow-up of parotid pleomorphic adenomas treated by extracapsular dissection.

BACKGROUND This study was carried out to evaluate tumor recurrence following extracapsular dissection of pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland. METHODS We conducted a retrospective evaluation and clinical follow-up of the patients who underwent extracapsular dissection of a pleomorphic adenoma as primary surgery in the otolaryngologic department of the Erlangen University Clinics during the period from 2000 to 2005. RESULTS In all, 601 surgical interventions on benign parotid tumors were carried out from 2000 to 2005, 219 of which were primary operations for removal of a pleomorphic adenoma. In 76 patients (34.7%), extracapsular dissection of a primary pleomorphic adenoma was carried out. Tumor recurrence has not been observed in any of these patients to date after an average monitoring period of 7.38 years (range, 5.05-10.52 years). CONCLUSIONS Extracapsular dissection is a conservative and safe surgical procedure for extirpation of pleomorphic adenomas that should be firmly established in the repertoire of parotid gland surgery.