Quality of life in patients submitted to surgical treatment for minor salivary gland neoplasms.

This study was aimed at assessing the quality of life in patients submitted to surgical treatment for minor salivary gland neoplasms (MSGN). Twelve patients (10 women and 2 men, mean age: 49.4 years) with histopathologic diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma (PA, 3 cases), polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA, 2 cases), cystic adenoid carcinoma (CAC, 4 cases), and muco-epidermoid carcinoma (MEC, 3 cases) were evaluated. All of them were treated by surgical excision; patients with CAC received radiotherapy as well. The patients quality of life was evaluated through a self-administered questionnaire concerning their physical well-being, emotional status, normal daily activities, and family relationships. The results showed that patients with MEC--the youngest among all patients--reported a significantly greater worsening of their physical well-being and emotional status after treatment as compared with patients treated for PA (P<0.05), and also of their functional activities as compared with those treated for PA and PLGA (P<0.05). In conclusion, age of development of the neoplasm and type of disease produce more impact on patients quality of life than does the therapys degree of aggression.

Quality of life in patients submitted to surgical treatment for minor salivary gland neoplasms

This study was aimed at assessing the quality of life in patients submitted to surgical treatment for minor salivary gland neoplasms (MSGN). Twelve patients (10 women and 2 men, mean age: 49.4 years) with histopathologic diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma (PA, 3 cases), polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA, 2 cases), cystic adenoid carcinoma (CAC, 4 cases), and muco-epidermoid carcinoma (MEC, 3 cases) were evaluated. All of them were treated by surgical excision; patients with CAC received radiotherapy as well. The patients’ quality of life was evaluated through a self-administered questionnaire concerning their physical well-being, emotional status, normal daily activities, and family relationships. The results showed that patients with MEC - the youngest among all patients - reported a significantly greater worsening of their physical well-being and emotional status after treatment as compared with patients treated for PA (P < 0.05), and also of their functional activities as compared with those treated for PA and PLGA (P < 0.05). In conclusion, age of development of the neoplasm and type of disease produce more impact on patients’ quality of life than does the therapy’s degree of aggression.

Este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a qualidade de vida em pacientes submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico para neoplasias de glândulas salivares menores (NGSM). Doze pacientes (10 mulheres e 2 homens, idade média de 49,4 anos) com diagnóstico histopatológico de adenoma pleomórfico (AP, 3 casos), adenocarcinoma polimorfo de baixo grau de malignidade (APBG, 2 casos), carcinoma adenóide cístico (CAC, 4 casos), e carcinoma muco-epidermóide (CME, 3 casos) foram avaliados. Todos os pacientes foram tratados por excisão cirúrgica; pacientes com CAC receberam radioterapia complementar. A qualidade de vida dos pacientes foi avaliada através de um questionário de auto-avaliação referente ao bem-estar físico, estado emocional, atividades normais diárias, e relações familiares. Os resultados mostraram que os pacientes com CME - os mais jovens entre todos os pacientes - relataram uma piora significativamente maior em seu bem-estar físico e estado emocional após o tratamento quando comparados com pacientes tratados de AP (P < 0,05), e também em suas atividades funcionais quando comparada com indivíduos tratados de AP e APBG (P < 0,05). Em conclusão, a idade de desenvolvimento da neoplasia e o tipo de doença produzem maior impacto na qualidade de vida do paciente do que faz o grau de agressão do tratamento.

Impact of lateral parotidectomy for benign tumors on quality of life.

CONCLUSION: This study supports the use of lateral parotidectomy as a safe and standardized type of surgery for benign parotid gland disease. OBJECTIVE: To assess quality of life in patients with benign salivary gland tumors who underwent lateral parotidectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients suffering from benign parotid gland disease were included in this prospective study. Using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC-QLQ-H&N35 questionnaire, surgery-affected changes in quality of life were assessed in 34 patients who completed this survey. RESULTS: Overall results show no alterations in quality of life 1 year after lateral parotidectomy.