Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures for Parotid Tumours and Salivary Gland Stones

   Professor Mark McGurk leads a highly specialised salivary gland team that has developed and introduced minimally invasive surgical techniques to the UK for the treatment of salivary gland disorders.

   The advantages of a minimally invasive approach The much smaller operation pioneered by Professor McGurk enables benign parotid tumours to be removed without removing the parotid gland. This minimally invasive approach greatly reduces disruption and the overall risk from surgery.  The current standard of care in most surgical units is still gland removal with all the attendant disruption and risk to the associated nerves

   Salivary Stones Salivary Stones are also susceptible to treatment by minimally invasive techniques. In more than 80% of cases, salivary stones can be reliably retrieved either by a simple outpatient procedure (small stones) under local anaesthetic or by day case anaesthesia for larger stones. 

  Strictures These are normally treated on an outpatient basis, typically by balloon dilation. Please see "Salivary Glands" for details

   97% reduction Using minimally invasive techniques, the incidence of surgical removal of salivary glands overall has been reduced to 3% of cases treated compared to 100% for conventional practice.

   These surgical techniques and advances are freely "exported" through international courses that are held annually by the team at Guy's Hospital. 

The London Salivary Gland Team is based within four main centres below, three of them private, the fourth being the NHS Trust of Guys and St Thomas Hospital

Practitioner link to South Thames Head and Neck Service Website