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

Abstract

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.

Ressecção cirúrgica de extenso adenoma pleomórfico em glândula salivar acessória na área do palato duro

“…Nos casos de AP no palato, após excisão cirúrgica, a ferida operatória apresentase cruenta e permanece exposta ao meio bucal. Visto que a boca desempenha funções essenciais como fala, mastigação e deglutição, os defeitos físicos deixados pelos procedimentos cirúrgicos podem afetar funcional e esteticamente o sistema estomatognático, afetando também a qualidade de vida dos pacientes 15 . Há um relato frequente que as áreas ósseas deixadas cicatrizar por segunda intenção provocam dores fortes nesses indivíduos 16 .…”

“…Há um relato frequente que as áreas ósseas deixadas cicatrizar por segunda intenção provocam dores fortes nesses indivíduos 16 . Além da dor e do desconforto, outras complicações pósoperatórias podem ocorrer como hemorragia, necrose óssea, fístula oro-nasal e infecções 15,16,17 . Um adequado manejo cirúrgico pode evitar hemorragias e necrose tecidual.…”