Abstract: PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical outcomes and prognosis of harmonic scalpel assisted extracapsular dissection for benign parotid tumors. METHODS: A total of 132 patients with full medical archives who were diagnosed as benign parotid tumors from 3 medical centers were retrospectively analyzed. The included patients were divided into 3 groups according to tumor positions, namely, superficial pre-auricular, superficial tail, and deep lobe. The intra- and peri-operative variables, complications, functional outcomes and recurrence rates were analyzed with SPSS 16.0 software package. RESULTS: The surgical and drainage time were longer and the blood loss and drainage amount were significantly greater in deep lobe group (P<0.01). Facial nerve damage occurred more frequently in deep lobe group (P=0.022), while damages of great auricular nerve and parotid fascia, as well as capsule rupture were similar among 3 groups (P>0.05). More patients with decreased sensation or sialocele were observed in deep lobe group (P=0.004, 0.043, respectively), and no significant differences were found for wound infection and Frey's syndrome among 3 groups (P>0.05). Transient facial nerve paralysis occurred more frequently in deep lobe group (P<0.01), while permanent facial nerve paralysis was similar (P=0.052). No significant difference was observed for tumor recurrence (P=1.000). CONCLUSIONS: HS-ECD displays good outcomes and prognosis for benign tumor of parotid gland, with improved esthetic and functional results as well as fewer complications and recurrence rate postoperatively.

Key words: Benign parotid gland tumor, Functional surgery, Harmonic scalpel assisted extracapsular dissection, Postoperative complication, Recurrent rate