Removal of the submandibular gland by a retroauricular approach.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the benefit of a retroauricular approach by comparing it with a conventional transcervical approach for removal of the submandibular gland.

DESIGN:

Prospective clinical study.

SETTING:

Academic center.

PATIENTS:

Thirty patients with benign submandibular gland disorders.

INTERVENTIONS:

Patients were divided into 2 surgical groups to undergo retroauricular (n = 15) and conventional (n = 15) procedures matched by age, sex, marital status, and pathologic condition. The retroauricular approach used an incision along the postauricular sulcus and hairline and subcutaneous tunneling to the gland; the conventional approach used an incision along a natural skin crease overlying the gland.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

The operation time, complications, hospital stay, and subjective satisfaction of incision scar checked by visual analog scale were compared between groups.

RESULTS:

The submandibular gland disorders were comparable between groups: pleomorphic adenoma (n = 15), chronic sialadenitis with sialolithiasis in the gland (n = 5) or hilum (n = 8), and Küttner (n = 1) or Kimura (n = 1) disease. Mean +/- SD operation times were 49 +/- 17 minutes in the retroauricular group and 38 +/- 15 minutes in the controls (P = .08). Mean +/- SD hospital stay and complication rates were comparable between groups. The mean +/- SD score of patient satisfaction was 8.9 +/- 0.9 in the retroauricular group and 4.2 +/- 2.9 in the conventional group (P<.001). The incision scar was commonly less visible in the retroauricular group because of hiding by the auricle and natural hair when comparing with the control group.

CONCLUSION:

The retroauricular approach can provide better cosmetic outcome than the conventional transcervical approach and without significant complications.

• Authors: Jong-Lyel Roh
• Journal: Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg) Vol. 132 Issue 7 Pg. 783-7 (Jul 2006) ISSN: 0886-4470 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16847190 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neck Dissection (methods)
• Prospective Studies
• Submandibular Gland (surgery)
• Submandibular Gland Diseases (surgery)
• Treatment Outcome