A retrospective study of clinical analysis of parotid gland tumors in patients attending a tertiary health care centre

Background: Parotid gland is one of the commonest seats of pathologic disorders in the head and neck region. It is the most common site of salivary gland tumors accounting for 80% of the total. The annual incidence of parotid gland tumors is 1 in 100,000. The present study was conducted to assess the clinical presentation and outcome of treatment of parotid tumors .
Methodology: Patients presenting in surgical OPD with parotid gland disorders requiring parotidectomy were included. Data were obtained through patient files and patient charts. Presenting features among patients, benign versus malignant nature of the disease, FNAC reports, type of surgical procedure instituted, complications encountered and histology reports of the surgical specimens were all recorded on a proforma. The data were subjected to statistical analysis with SPSS version 15.
Results: Out of 64 patients, 21 (33%) were males and 43 (67%%) females with mean age of 42 ± 7.5 years. All had presented usually with painless lump. Fifty five (86.4%) patients had benign pathology while 13.6% (n = 09) had malignanciy. Superficial parotidectomy was carried out in 61.7% (n = 39) patients, partial superficial and only total parotidectomy was done in 20.3% and 13.3% patients respectively while total parotidectomy in 5.7% cases The mostcommon post-operative complication was facial nerve transient paresis occurred in 6.5% cases while 2.4% cases had facial nerve palsy. 1.5% patients suffered from saliva leakage. There was no in-hospital mortality.
Conclusion: Parotid gland tumours commonly affect relatively young individuals of either gender. Majority of the patients present as a painless lump in parotid region. Most of the patients have benign pathology while a small percentage has malignancy. Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common type of benign parotid tumor. FNAC is the preferred method for differentiating between benign and malignant tumor. Superficial parotidectomy is the most commonly offered surgical procedure. Parotid surgeries are safely performed in general surgery units with low morbidity and no mortality.