Upon taking his medical history, Mr. C. stated that due to fear of surgery and complications, he did not seek medical examination or treatment but instead turned to remedies of unknown origin. He bought blackthorn plants to boil and drink daily; however, the tumor did not disappear but continued to grow for 11 years.
Tumors of the parotid glands were detected on both sides.
Recently, as the tumor grew larger, he was referred by friends to see Dr. Doan Minh Trong, a specialist in Head and Neck Surgery (Head and Neck Unit, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City), who has successfully performed many parotid gland tumor surgeries.
On January 8th, Dr. Doan Minh Trong, a specialist in Internal Medicine, stated that at the Head and Neck Clinic, Mr. C. underwent ultrasound, MRI, and biopsy. The results revealed that Mr. C. had parotid gland tumors on both sides, with the left tumor measuring 12cm and the right 3cm. Dr. Trong developed a treatment plan and advised surgery, which Mr. C. agreed to.
Dr. Doan Minh Trong and his team from the Head and Neck Surgery Unit performed the surgery on the patient. The doctors made an incision; the tumor had been there for 11 years, so it was firmly attached to the facial nerve and parotid gland tissue. The team carefully and skillfully separated the thin, thread-like facial nerve from the giant tumor and parotid gland tissue. Then, they dissected the left parotid gland tumor. The team continued to dissect the right parotid gland tumor, trimmed excess skin, and performed cosmetic suturing. The surgery was successful after two hours.
After the surgery, the long wounds on both sides of the face were skillfully sutured, leaving no visible scars, and activities such as speaking, laughing, eating, and drinking returned to normal.
The doctor is checking Mr. C's surgical wound.
Although benign, these tumors can still cause facial paralysis if they are large.
Dr. Doan Minh Trong explained that parotid gland tumors are the aggressive growth of cells leading to benign or malignant tumors, usually painless. The salivary glands in the body include the parotid, submandibular, sublingual, and accessory glands in the oral cavity. Parotid gland tumors account for 80% of salivary gland tumors, with 20% being malignant. Large benign tumors can cause difficulty swallowing and compress the facial nerve, leading to facial paralysis. Most parotid gland tumors, whether benign or malignant, require surgery. The extent of surgery will depend on the nature of the tumor and the doctor's recommendation.
Parotid gland tumor surgery is complex because the seventh cranial nerve controls facial muscle movement. Surgical procedures must be meticulous and precise, preserving all five branches of the facial nerve. Carelessness on the part of the surgeon can easily lead to nerve severance, resulting in facial paralysis, preventing the patient from closing their eyes, mouth, or expressing emotions.
According to Dr. Doan Minh Trong, there are many types of blackthorn in Vietnam, and incomplete research can easily lead to confusion during use. Therefore, patients need guidance from medical staff before using blackthorn leaves for disease prevention and treatment. Studies worldwide on the effectiveness of blackthorn in treatment are also small-scale, and especially, there have been no studies conducted on humans, so caution is needed when using it.
"People should not use plant leaves to treat tumors on their own. When a tumor is detected, it is advisable to see a doctor for proper consultation and treatment," the doctor advised.
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