Objective:To summarize and analyze the clinical features, diagnosis methods, surgical approaches and treatment outcomes of patients with parapharygeal space tumors.Method:A retrospective review of 72 cases with parapharygeal space tumors treated from March 1994 to June 2017 was performed. The data on presentation, surgical approach, histological diagnosis and postoperative complications were reviewed.Result:The postoperative pathological diagnosis included 62 benign tumors and 10 malignant tumors. The most frequent symptom was a cervical mass or an intraoral swelling. All patients underwent preoperative enhanced CT scan or MRI,which would be helpful to evaluate the tumor sizes,locations and possible sources,and to make operation scheme. The postoperative pathology included 24 salivary gland lesions and 30 neurogenic lesions. The postoperative complications happened in 13 patients. The surgical approaches included trans-cervical approach in 55 cases, cervical-parotid approach in 9 cases,trans-oral approach in 6 cases , and trans skull base approach in 2 case.Conclusion:A parapharygeal space tumor is an uncommon tumor and requires careful preoperative assessment. Surgery is the first choice for parapharygeal space tumors. These patients should be counseled appropriately about the potential for permanent cranial nerve deficits.
Keywords: diagnosis; parapharyngeal space tumors; surgery.
Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.