Rajesh Mithalavalaram Raghavan1, Bhavish Vijayan Shylaja2
BACKGROUND
Incidence of salivary gland tumours is increasing recently. They are slow growing and well-circumscribed. 70% of these occur in parotid gland, which has close relation with facial nerve.
The aim of the study is to identify facial nerve, delineate tumour extent during parotidectomy and to assess incidence of risk factors in parotid tumours.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study was conducted in 45 patients undergoing elective parotidectomy for parotid tumour in General Surgery, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, over a period of 18 months. These patients are divided into 3 groups of 15 each for which intravital staining and nerve monitor used and one group used as control.
RESULTS
86% had benign tumours with a female preponderance. Warthin’s tumour dominates among male smokers. There is a definite increase in operation time when nerve identification techniques are not used. 30% had permanent facial nerve palsy and 93% had transient facial palsy.
CONCLUSION
Facial nerve palsy after parotidectomy is usually transient. Intravital staining and nerve monitor has got definite role in preventing facial nerve injury. Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign and mucoepidermoid carcinoma is most common malignant tumour.
