Investigation of quality of life after parotid neoplasm surgery

Purpose: To evaluate quality of life of patients who were undergone parotidectomy due to benign or malign parotid neoplazmsMaterials and methods: The data about 79 patients who undergone surgery and applied radyotherapy if needed between January 2005-December 2009 in our clinical center was analyzed. Ear nose and throat examination and starch iodine test were made to 46 (24 female, 22 male) patients who accepted to be include in this study among patients who were able called by phone. All patients were over 18 years old. A quality of life questionnaire was given to patients. One patient who was undergone surgery bilaterally due to Whartin tumor was given two qestionnaire and these were evaluated separately. In this way, 47 quality of life questionnaire were answered by 46 patients. Examination?s findings, the results of starch iodine test and the answers for quality of life questionnaire were evaluated.Results: According to the results of histopathology, 15 patients had a malign tumour and 65 patients had a benign tumour. The most reason for surgery was pleomorphic adenoma which is a benign tumour (28 patients), the second reason was Whartin tumor (12 patients). When pathologic specimens were examined after surgery the most appeared malign tumour was the metastasis of skin squamous cell carcinoma (8 patients). 65 patients were undergone superficial parotidectomy and 14 patients were undergone total parotidectomy. 42 of the patients were undergone left parotidectomy, 36 of the patients were undergone right parotidectomy, one patient was undergone bilateral parotidectomy. Neck dissection was made to 14 patients. Two patients who were operated due to malign tumor were repaired with skin?s flap in the same seance. An appointment was made with 46 patients for the study of life quality. 24 of all patients who were accepted the appointment were female, 22 male and the mean age was 48 (19-87). The average time for interviewing with patients after surgery was 26 months (3-59 months). On examination of ear nose and throat, three patients had opposite side mass, one patient had a cheloid scar in the incision, one patient had facial paresis and 33 patients had findings of painted with starch iodine test in the operated side of face. The patients were grouped according to the width of space which was painted with starch iodine test. There was a statistically significant relation between the width of space which was painted and the severity of patient?s compliants that was related to local effects of Frey Syndrome. The answers which was given to the questionniare were graded and the relation between these results with age, type of illness, sex and the results of starch iodine test was investigated. The patients who are over 45 years old are more pleased from their conditions. The relation between sex and scar, xerostomia was significant statistically. The males were more complaining from incision scar relatively. Females were more complaining from xerostomia. The questionnare was evaluated with patients after that was answered. All patients were asked that to be informed before surgery was enough or not. When 45 patients said that they were informed enough, one male patient said that he was not informed enough.Conclusion: During the parotid surgery the nervus auricularis magnus is preserved by a careful dissection for patient comfort. Although Frey Syndrome is frequently seen after parotidectomy, patients who is nedeed treatment is too few. All complications of parotid?s surgery affect quality of life of patients. Before surgery when patients are informed enough, they will rely on physician too much and they will accept results of surgery easily. Before surgery one question related to be informed which is enough or is not is added to the questionnaire will provide to get more information about life quality of patients.