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Intra-parotid Facial Nerve Imaging in Parotidectomy

Postoperative Facial Weakness in Parotidectomy for Deep Seated Parotid Tumor With or Without Intra-parotid Facial Nerve Imaging (3D Double-Echo Steady-State With Water Excitation MRI Imaging)

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03822728
Enrollment
270
Registered
2019-01-30
Start date
2017-08-01
Completion date
2021-07-31
Last updated
2023-11-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Facial Nerve Paresis, Parotid Tumors

Brief summary

In this study, the investigators will evaluate the clinical usefulness of 3 dimensional double echo steady state MRI (3D-DESS MRI) for functional preservation of the facial nerve during parotidectomy. Preoperative 3D-DESS MRI imaging can provide information about the anatomical relationship between the tumor and the facial nerve in the parotid gland. Because the risk of postoperative facial weakness is relatively high in the deep-seated parotid tumors, the investigators will exclude the patients with the superficial parotid tumors (determined by preoperative CT or US) and only include the patients with deep seated parotid tumors in this trial. The main outcome of our study is the incidence of immediate postoperative facial weakness, and the secondary outcome is the incidence of facial weakness at postoperative 6 months.

Detailed description

Surgical removal of tumors arising from the parotid gland (benign or malignant) is treatment of choice. However, the most detrimental complication of parotidectomy is facial weakness or facial nerve palsy, because the facial nerve crosses in the mid-portion of the parotid gland. Numerous studies indicated the incidence of temporary facial weakness as 5-45% and permanent facial palsy as 0-15% after parotidectomy. To reduce this complication, the investigators will apply the modern technique of MRI imaging to inform the anatomical relationship between the tumor and the facial nerve within the parotid gland preoperatively. Three dimensional double echo steady state MRI imaging (3D-DESS MRI) has been reported useful for the intra-parotid facial nerve imaging. Thus, the investigators will evaluate the clinical usefulness of 3D-DESS MRI for functional preservation of the facial nerve during parotidectomy. Preoperative 3D-DESS MRI imaging can provide information about the anatomical relationship between the tumor and the facial nerve in the parotid gland. In the retrospective series, the investigators found that there were 25.6% temporary facial weakness and 10.3% permanent (\> 6 months) facial weakness after parotidectomy for deep-seated parotid tumors (plus tumors located in both deep and superficial parotid gland); whereas 6.7% and 3.6% facial weakness respectively for superficially located parotid tumors. Because the risk of postoperative facial weakness is relatively high in the deep-seated parotid tumors, the investigators will exclude the patients with the superficial parotid tumors (determined by preoperative CT or US) and only include the patients with deep seated parotid tumors in this trial. The main outcome of our study is the incidence of immediate postoperative facial weakness, and the secondary outcome is the incidence of facial weakness at postoperative 6 months.

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST3D-DESS MRI (3 dimensional double echo steady state MRI)

3D-DESS MRI has been reported useful for the intra-parotid facial nerve imaging. It can provide information about the anatomical relationship between the tumor and the facial nerve in the parotid gland.

Sponsors

Samsung Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Parotid tumors subject to the surgery (parotidectomy) * Parotid deep lobe tumors or tumor located in both superficial and deep parotid glands (Tumor medial to the facial nerve line, a line connecting the lateral border of mandible and the posterior belly of digastric muscle on CT scans or tumors crossing the facial nerve line on CT scans) * Benign or malignant tumors * Any size of parotid tumors

Exclusion criteria

* Superficially located parotid tumor on CT or US (Tumor lateral to the facial nerve line, a line connecting the lateral border of mandible and the posterior belly of digastric muscle on CT scans) * Previous parotid surgery in the affected parotid gland (Revision parotid surgery) * Preoperative facial nerve palsy * Cases with the facial nerve sacrifice during surgery for oncological purpose (malignancy)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Immediate postoperative facial weaknessPostoperative day 1Evaluation of facial function using Facial palsy grading system, immediately after parotidectomy. Measures: House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System (1: Normal, 2: Mild dysfunction, 3: Moderately dysfunction, 4: Moderately severe dysfunction, 5: Severe dysfunction, 6: Total paralysis)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Permanent postoperative facial weaknessPostoperative 6 monthsEvaluation of facial function using Facial palsy grading system, at 6 months after parotidectomy. Measures: House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System (1: Normal, 2: Mild dysfunction, 3: Moderately dysfunction, 4: Moderately severe dysfunction, 5: Severe dysfunction, 6: Total paralysis)

Countries

South Korea

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026