6.3.1: 1. Motivation and Methodology

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International guidelines for parotid tumours and cancers assume availability of ultrasound, CT, MRI, high quality cytology, high levels of surgical expertise, frozen section, and postoperative radiation therapy. Frequently, not all these interventions are available, and follow-up may be unreliable.

Without resource appropriate guidelines for parotid tumours, both resident and volunteer surgeons from developed countries have little to guide them about best practice when working in resource limited settings. This might lead to inappropriate investigations, inappropriate treatment, and may compromise patients.

The AfHNS Clinical Practice Guidelines for Parotid Tumours and Cancers in Developing Countries and Limited Resource Settings tailor management of parotid tumours and cancers according to diagnostic and therapeutic resources available to physicians and to their patients.

Methodology

The AfHNS convened a task force to enumerate parotid guidelines for poorly resourced settings. This collaboration between physicians from African and developed countries included members of the AfHNS, American, and European colleagues. International guidelines were referenced and adapted for limited resources. Due to paucity of literature about management of salivary cancers in low resource settings, much of the recommendations represents expert opinion.

Contributors to AfHNS Clinical Practice Guidelines for Parotid Masses and Cancers in Developing Countries and Limited Resource Settings were: Johan Fagan (South Africa), Jeff Otiti (Uganda), Joyce Aswani (Kenya), Paul Onakoya (Nigeria), Anna Konney (Ghana), Mohammed Garba (Nigeria), Rajab Mugabo (Rwanda), Innocent Kundiona (Zimbabwe), Melesse Biadgelign (Ethiopia), Chege Macharia (Kenya), Victor Mashamba (Tanzania), Kenneth Baidoo (Ghana), Khaled Twier (Libya), Clare Stannard (South Africa), Julie Wetter (South Africa), Vincent Vander Poorten (Belgium), Patrick Bradley (UK), Mark Zafereo (USA).