Page 29 - Head and neck surgery

(III) PAROTID TUMOUR

Conventionally, parotidectomy is performed via

modified Blair’s incision as marked in the photo.

This enables good exposure of the tumour, all

branches of the facial nerve and great auricular

nerve.

The inferior limb may be extended to the

anterior neck in case greater exposure is

required and/or neck dissection is required in

case of malignant parotid tumours.

Such an approach leads to visible scarring and

functional deficit when compounded with

lymphoedema and radiotherapy, as described

earlier.