Locoregional metastatic behavior in a complex mosaic of primary malignant tumors of the parotid gland

• Published in: American journal of otolaryngology 2023-11, Vol.44 (6), p.103973-103973, Article 103973
• Main Authors: Varga, Regina, Iro, Ann-Kristin, Thimsen, Vivian, Sievert, Matti, Agaimy, Abbas, Balk, Matthias, Rupp, Robin, Grundtner, Philipp, Koch, Michael, Iro, Heinrich, Mantsopoulos, Konstantinos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: High-grade; Low-grade; Malignant tumor; Neck dissection; Parotid gland; Parotidectomy
• ISSN: 0196-0709; 1532-818X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.103973

The aim of the study was to investigate primary locoregional metastatic behavior in a large sample of various malignant tumors of the parotid gland with varying grades following surgical treatment consisting of complete parotidectomy and neck dissection. The records of all patients treated for primary malignant tumors of the parotid gland by means of complete parotidectomy and neck dissection between 2007 and 2022 were studied retrospectively. 196 patients formed our study sample (98 females, 98 males). The mean age was 65.7 years (22–101 years). 92 cases presented with low-grade subtypes, 19 with intermediate-grade, and 85 with high-grade carcinomas. The locoregional lymphatic network had been invaded in a total of 66/196 cases (33.6 %). The intraparotid lymph nodes were positive in 54/196 cases (27.5 %) and the cervical lymph nodes in 41/196 cases (20.9 %). In 12 out of the 66 cases with a pN+ status, the neck had been invaded without involvement of the intraparotideal lymph nodes (18.2 %). Male patients tended to suffer from more aggressive carcinomas, and high-grade subtypes presented significantly more frequently as locally advanced tumors. Higher grading was significantly associated with the involvement of the parotid (p