{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,26]],"date-time":"2026-08-26T06:05:11Z","timestamp":1787724311497,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,9]],"date-time":"2026-01-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767916800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Diagnostics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Parotid gland tumors pose diagnostic and surgical challenges due to their histological heterogeneity and proximity to the facial nerve. This study aimed to evaluate clinicopathological features and postoperative outcomes with a specific focus on facial nerve function in patients undergoing parotidectomy. Methods: This retrospective study included 314 patients who underwent parotidectomy between 2008 and 2024 at a tertiary center. Demographic data, tumor histology, and postoperative complications\u2014particularly facial nerve paralysis within the first three months\u2014were analyzed. Histopathological features including capsular, perineural, and lymphovascular invasion were also assessed. Results: Of all cases, 79% were benign, 14.6% malignant, and 6.4% non-neoplastic. Pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin tumor were the most common benign entities, while mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the most frequent malignancy. Malignant tumors were associated with higher rates of positive surgical margins (44.2% vs. 12.5%, p &lt; 0.001), capsular invasion (25% vs. 7%, p &lt; 0.001), and tumor necrosis (22% vs. &lt;1%, p &lt; 0.001). Facial paralysis occurred in 4.4% of patients, largely transient and significantly associated with malignant tumors (p &lt; 0.001) and extensive lymph node dissection (p &lt; 0.001). Capsular invasion and necrosis were rare in benign lesions but still observed, especially in pleomorphic adenoma. Conclusions: Histopathologic aggressiveness markers were associated with malignant disease and postoperative facial nerve dysfunction. These findings support a risk-stratified approach to follow-up: all patients undergo universal early assessment at two weeks and three months, after which surveillance intensity may be individualized according to histopathologic features\u2014such as necrosis, perineural invasion, capsular invasion, or positive margins.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics16020216","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,9]],"date-time":"2026-01-09T14:15:50Z","timestamp":1767968150000},"page":"216","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Clinicopathologic Features and Postoperative Outcomes of Parotidectomy: A 16-Year Retrospective Cohort Study from a Tertiary Referral Center"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1235-6739","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Seval","family":"Akay","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Medical Oncology Department, Izmir City Hospital, Izmir 35400, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8455-4400","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ozlem","family":"Yagiz Agayarov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Head and Neck Department, Izmir Tepecik and Education Hospital, Izmir 35020, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0283-1599","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Volkan","family":"Semiz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Radiation Oncology Department, Izmir City Hospital, Izmir 35400, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2916-0123","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ulku","family":"Kucuk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pathology Department, Izmir City Hospital, Izmir 35400, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6987-3887","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ilker Burak","family":"Arslan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Head and Neck Department, Izmir City Hospital, Izmir 35400, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7698-3574","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Olcun Umit","family":"Unal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medical Oncology Department, Izmir City Hospital, Izmir 35400, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2398-3391","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ibrahim","family":"Cukurova","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Head and Neck Department, Izmir Tepecik and Education Hospital, Izmir 35020, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"343","DOI":"10.1016\/j.otc.2015.11.001","article-title":"Diagnosis and management of malignant salivary gland tumors of the parotid gland","volume":"49","author":"Lewis","year":"2016","journal-title":"Otolaryngol. 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