Clinical and oncological outcomes after surgical excision of parotid gland tumours in patients aged over 80 years

The objective of this study was to evaluate the surgical and long-term outcomes of a series of patients aged over 80 years, operated on for parotid neoplasms. Among 614 parotidectomies for neoplasms performed between 1998 and 2008, 34 patients (5.5%) aged over 80 years were identified retrospectively. Pathological examination showed a malignant tumour in 24 and a benign tumour in 10 cases. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were determined by Kaplan–Meier analysis. A search for parameters that could influence the postoperative complication rate and long-term outcomes was carried out by univariate analysis. There was no postoperative death. Eight patients (24%) had postoperative complications. Malignant histopathology (P = 0.05) and radical resection (P = 0.033) were found to have a significant negative impact on the postoperative course. Focusing on malignant tumours, only histopathological type (metastasis vs primary tumour) was found to have a negative impact on OS. The 2- and 5-year OS rates were 86% and 86%, respectively, for primary tumours, and 67% and 29%, respectively, for metastasis (P = 0.05). Malignant or benign histopathology had no impact on OS. Our results showed acceptable clinical and long-term oncological outcomes in very elderly patients operated on for parotid tumours, including malignant tumours.