Parotidectomy: a review of 112 patients treated at a teaching hospital in Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical presentation, histopathology and complications following parotid surgery. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 112 patients who underwent parotidectomy from January 2000 to February 2010. Data including age, sex, clinical signs and symptoms, histology and complication were collected from medical records. RESULTS Of the total, 82 (74%) had benign lesions, 30 (36%) had malignant tumors. The most common benign tumor was pleomorphic adenoma (57%), and the most common malignant tumor was mucoepidermoid carcinoma (16%). Analysis of the correlation between fine-needle aspiration cytology and final histology revealed that fine-needle aspiration sensitivity, specificity and accuracy to 86.6%, 97.6% and 94.6% respectively. The most common complication following parotidectomy was transient facial nerve palsy (18.7%). CONCLUSION Superficial parotidectomy is associated with a decrease incidence of transient facial nerve dysfunction compared with that of total parotidectomy. High grade or advanced tumour is a predictor of poor outcome which may require adjuvant therapy.