Total Parotidectomy Versus Less-Than-Total Parotidectomy for Early-Stage Low Grade Parotid Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract

Objectives: Total parotidectomy (TP) has been advocated to ensure complete tumor clearance and removal of intraparotid lymph nodes; however, less-than-total parotidectomy (LTT) may offer comparable oncologic control with superior functional outcomes. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we compared oncologic and functional outcomes between LTT and TP for patients with T1-2 low-grade parotid malignancies.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Four retrospective cohort studies of T1-2 low-grade parotid cancer were included. Patients underwent either LTT or TP. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Pooled hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using I ² statistics and the Cochran's Q test.

Results: The pooled analysis demonstrated no significant difference in OS between LTT and TP based on three studies. Across the four studies, RFS was comparable between the two surgical approaches, and statistical heterogeneity was negligible for both OS and RFS. No evidence of publication bias was detected.

Conclusion: In selected patients with T1-2 low-grade parotid malignancies confined to the superficial lobe, LTT showed no statistically significant disadvantage in OS or RFS compared with TP based on the available retrospective evidence. However, the high risk of bias across included studies limits causal interprettion. Surgical strategy should therefore be individualized and should prioritize negative margins and functional preservation when oncologically appropriate. Prospective studies with standardized oncologic and functional outcome reporting are warranted.

Level of evidence: 3.