Technique for benign tumours in the tail of the parotid gland
Reviewed by Stuart Clark

This is a retrospective study of 89 patients from China, 49 of whom were treated surgically by a partial superficial parotidectomy through retrograde approach, and 40 treated as an extracapsular dissection for benign tumours of the tail of the parotid gland. There was shown to be a significantly reduced difference in the development of a sialocele and facial nerve injury in the extracapsular approach. The time to undertake surgery was similar. The authors acknowledge it was a single institution with a short-term follow-up and that that surgery with a positive margin was not included in the study. The technique used for the extracapsular dissection involved identification of the various fascial layers as a means of minimising facial nerve trauma. They conclude that an extracapsular dissection with a transparotid facial nerve dissection approach is the preferred treatment, acknowledging the above concerns and considerations. It is a shame that positive margins were not considered as this would be the main reason for not taking the extra capsular approach.

Extracapsular dissection with a transparotid facial nerve dissection approach versus partial superficial parotidectomy for benign tumours in the tail of the parotid gland: a single-centre retrospective study of 89 patients.
Liu Z, Wang B, Yang L.
INT J ORAL MAXILLOFAC SURG
2023;52(6):656-2.