"Hidden scar" submandibular gland excision using an endoscope-assisted hairline approach.

OBJECTIVES: Endoscope-assisted surgery is becoming the standard and most frequently preferred technique in a number of surgical disciplines because of its advantages of leaving a minimal or concealed postoperative scar compared with the conventional approaches. However, such operations are not yet standard in submandibular gland (SMG) surgery due to the anatomic complexity of this region.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective comparative analysis of the clinical outcome of patients who underwent SMG resection using the hairline approach versus the conventional transcervical approach. We evaluated the feasibility of the procedure by comparing the operation (operation time, hospital stay) and patient (drainage, complications) variable and the cosmetic satisfaction of the patients in each group.

RESULTS: Twenty patients underwent the hairline approach and 20 underwent the conventional transcervical approach. Among the operation factors, only the operation time in the hairline approach group was longer than in the conventional group (P<0.003); we observed no other significant differences in the overall operation and patient factors between the two groups. Cosmetic satisfaction evaluated with a graded scale showed much better results in the hairline approach group (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: SMG excision using endoscope assisted hairline incision is a feasible method for treating SMG disease with excellent cosmetic results.