Abstract
The choice of an appropriate surgical approach for accessory parotid gland tumors is controversial because of the rarity of this type of tumor. In this retrospective study, we analyzed and assessed our experience of surgery by a direct approach using facial incision.
From 2010 to 2013, we performed five surgeries for accessory parotid gland tumor. Three of the patients with these tumors were male patients and two were female. The mean age was 55, ranging from 40 to 66. Three were benign tumors and the other two were malignant. During these operations, the facial nerve was easily identified in all cases and preservation of the nerve was not difficult except in one case with myoepithelial carcinoma. In this case, partial excision of the masseter muscle was necessary, but this approach provided wide exposure and good flexibility. Postoperative facial scar demonstrated good cosmetic results and was satisfactory to all the patients.
These results indicate that the direct approach using facial incision is feasible and preferred from both aspects of the incidence of postoperative facial palsy and cosmetic results as compared with the trans-parotid approach by S-shaped incision.
