Question: A 42 year old male is referred for evaluation of a right parotid tumor. A fine needle aspiration biopsy was obtained previously and the report read “benign mixed tumor”. Examination reveals a mobile, 2 cm lesion in the parotid tail. Facial nerve exam is normal. Which of the following is NOT an appropriate management option?

a) Complete superficial parotidectomy

b) Enucleation

c) Extracapsular dissection

d) Inferior-half superficial parotidectomy

[Answer will be posted with next week's new question]

Answer to last week's question, “Moving the Needle” (September 7, 2021)

D - Anxiety.

Carlson ML, Barnes JH, Nassiri A, Patel NS, Tombers NM, Lohse CM, Van Gompel JJ, Neff BA, Driscoll CLW, Link MJ. Prospective Study of Disease-Specific Quality-of-Life in Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma Comparing Observation, Radiosurgery, and Microsurgery. Otol Neurotol. 2021 Feb 1;42(2):e199-e208.