Modified endoscope-assisted partial-superficial parotidectomy through a retroauricular incision.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of an endoscope-assisted partial parotidectomy through a modified retroauricular incision. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with benign parotid superficial lobe tumors with a diameter of 2.4 +/- 0.5 cm, located in the anterior portion of the inferior auricular lobule, underwent an endoscope-assisted partial-superficial parotidectomy. A retrograde approach through a small skin incision was used. An additional 30 patients who underwent conventional surgeries were used as controls. The operation time, operative bleeding volume and subjective satisfaction with the incision scar were compared between the groups. RESULTS: All operations were successfully performed. The endoscopic surgery duration (74.8 +/- 15.7 min), bleeding volume (12.7 +/- 3.9 ml) and incision length (4.8 +/- 0.4 cm) differed between the groups (p = 0.001). The mean patient satisfaction score was 8.6 +/- 1.2 in the endoscope-assisted surgery group and 5.4 +/- 1.3 in the control group (p = 0.001). There were no tumor recurrences during the 9-36 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Endoscope-assisted partial-superficial parotidectomy via a modified retroauricular incision is a feasible method for the treatment of benign parotid superficial lobe tumors located in the anterior portion of the inferior auricular lobule. The main advantage of this procedure was that the small operative scars improved the cosmetic results.