Danique M S Berger1, Martinus M van Veen1, Max F Madu2, Alexander C J van Akkooi2, Wouter V Vogel3,4, Alfons J M Balm1,5, Willem M C Klop1,5. 1. Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 2. Department of Surgical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Radiotherapy, Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 5. Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Parotidectomy in melanoma of the coronal scalp and face with clinically involved cervical lymph node metastasis is based on predicted cervical lymphatic drainage described by O'Brien. METHODS: In total, 40 parotidectomies with en bloc therapeutic neck dissection were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Lymphatic spread of melanoma to the parotid lymph nodes was observed in 10 of 40 specimens (25%). Eight of the 10 parotid-positive patients developed a recurrence vs 17 of the 30 parotid-negative patients (P = 0.28). There were no differences in overall survival, melanoma-specific survival, and disease-free survival between the parotid-positive and parotid-negative patients. CONCLUSION: Although in this series no survival differences were found, parotidectomy still merits a sustained role in therapeutic neck dissection procedures to improve regional control and to prevent facial nerve damage after surgery for a second relapse from occult metastases in the parotid.
BACKGROUND: Parotidectomy in melanoma of the coronal scalp and face with clinically involved cervical lymph node metastasis is based on predicted cervical lymphatic drainage described by O'Brien. METHODS: In total, 40 parotidectomies with en bloc therapeutic neck dissection were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Lymphatic spread of melanoma to the parotid lymph nodes was observed in 10 of 40 specimens (25%). Eight of the 10 parotid-positive patients developed a recurrence vs 17 of the 30 parotid-negative patients (P = 0.28). There were no differences in overall survival, melanoma-specific survival, and disease-free survival between the parotid-positive and parotid-negative patients. CONCLUSION: Although in this series no survival differences were found, parotidectomy still merits a sustained role in therapeutic neck dissection procedures to improve regional control and to prevent facial nerve damage after surgery for a second relapse from occult metastases in the parotid.
Authors: Steffen Spoerl; Gerrit Spanier; Elena Reiter; Michael Gerken; Sebastian Haferkamp; Jirka Grosse; Konstantin Drexler; Tobias Ettl; Monika Klinkhammer-Schalke; René Fischer; Silvia Spoerl; Torsten E Reichert; Christoph Klingelhöffer Journal: Head Face Med Date: 2021-10-22 Impact factor: 2.246