What the Parotid Tumor Surgery Are

➔ The procedure of parotid tumours surgery is known as a parotidectomy. The superficial lobe and the deep lobe are the two lobes that make up the parotid gland. A superficial parotidectomy is the name of the procedure used to remove a tumour from the superficial lobe. Total parotidectomy refers to the surgical procedure used to remove a tumour from the deep lobe or from both the deep and superficial lobes. 

➔ The preauricular region of the parotid gland, which extends towards the cheek, is high in the neck and contains mostly serous salivary glands. The postauricular muscles, the posterior belly of the digastric muscle, and the stylohyoid muscles all get motor innervation from the extratemporal facial nerve and its branches, which pass through the parotid gland.

➔ Cervicofacial and temporofacial branches make up the motor branches for the face; the former supply the muscles in the mouth and neck, while the latter supply the muscles in the brow and eyes (there is some overlap in the nasal region).

➔ Almost all parotid gland tumours, whether malignant or benign, should be surgically removed. Despite the fact that the majority of tumours are non-cancerous and grow slowly, they frequently continue to grow and sporadically develop into cancer. The parotid gland must typically be removed as part of parotid tumour treatment (parotidectomy). 

➔ Parotid surgery is frequently carried out through small incisions made in the skin folds behind and around the ear. Due to the fact that the gland is crossed by a nerve that controls facial movement, surgery may be challenging. Malignant tumours in the parotid gland may be surgically removed while still leaving most of the facial nerve intact, but if the tumour is encroaching on the nerve, the nerve must be sacrificed, which will cause facial paralysis.

➔ After surgery, radiation therapy is frequently advised for tumours that are malignant. This is normally given four to six weeks following the surgery in order to give the body enough time to recuperate before radiation treatment.

➔ The parotid gland is home to the majority of salivary gland tumours. The facial nerve, which regulates the facial muscles' movements, some aspects of taste, the ability to produce tears and saliva, and some aspects of skin sensation on the same side of the face, travels through the gland, making surgery in this area challenging. For these procedures, a skin incision is made that may go all the way down to the neck, just in front of the ear.

➔ The superficial lobe, which is located on the outside of the gland, is where most parotid gland tumours begin. These can be addressed by a superficial parotidectomy, which involves removing just this lobe. This typically results in no damage to the facial nerve and has no impact on taste, sensation, or face movement.

➔ The surgeon will remove the entire gland if your cancer has progressed deeper. Total parotidectomy is the name of this procedure. The facial nerve will also need to be removed if the cancer has spread there. Ask what may be done to treat the negative effects brought on by the removal of the nerve if your surgeon has suggested this procedure. These tissues may also need to be removed if the cancer has spread to nearby tissues that are close to your parotid gland.

➔ The surgeon will make a cut in the skin to remove the entire gland and maybe some of the surrounding tissue or bone if the malignancy is in the submandibular or sublingual glands. Movement of the tongue and the bottom half of the face, as well as sensation and taste, are all controlled by nerves that run through or close to these glands. The surgeon might have to cut some of these nerves, depending on the size and location of the cancer.