Parapharyngeal space benign tumours: Our experience

• Published in: Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 101 - 105
• Main Authors: Cassoni, Andrea, Terenzi, Valentina, Della Monaca, Marco, Bartoli, Davina, Battisti, Andrea, Rajabtork Zadeh, Oriana, Valentini, Valentino
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2014
• Subjects: Adenoma, Pleomorphic - surgery; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biopsy, Fine-Needle - methods; Dentistry; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Head and Neck Neoplasms - surgery; Humans; Intraoperative Complications; Longitudinal Studies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Mandible - surgery; Middle Aged; Neck - surgery; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - surgery; Osteotomy - methods; Parapharyngeal space benign tumour; Parotid gland; Parotid Gland - surgery; Parotid Neoplasms - surgery; Pharynx; Postoperative Complications; Retrospective Studies; Salivary Gland Neoplasms - surgery; Surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Transcervical approach; Transmandibular approach; Transparotid approach; Young Adult; Parapharyngeal space benign tumour; Transmandibular approach; Transcervical approach; Transparotid approach; Parotid gland
• ISSN: 1010-5182; 1878-4119
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcms.2013.03.002

Abstract Only about 0.5% of all head and neck neoplasms occur in the parapharyngeal space (PPS) and approximately 80% of these tumours are benign lesions. Various surgical approaches some of which are associated with mandibulotomy to increase exposure have been described. This article describes our 16-years' experience in treating 60 PPS benign tumours with special focus on our surgical techniques intended to ensure adequate mass exposure and structure safety. On the basis of our experience we assert that mandibulotomy is currently not advocated in the surgical management of benign PPS tumours i.e. not even in very select cases. The transparotid approach is the treatment of choice for parotid gland lesions involving PPS and in cases of multinodular or uninodular pleomorphic adenoma relapse involving the PPS. The transcervical approach is suitable for the safe removal of even large PPS masses in most cases.