Parapharyngeal space tumors: 61 case reviews

Dimitrijevic, M.V.; Jesic, S.D.; Mikic, A.A.; Arsovic, N.A.; Tomanovic, N.R.

doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2010.06.005

« Previous Next »International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Volume 39, Issue 10 , Pages 983-989, October 2010

Parapharyngeal space tumors: 61 case reviews

M.V. Dimitrijevic
- Clinical Center of Serbia, Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Belgrade, Serbia and University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
- Address: Milovan V. Dimitrijevic, Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Pasterova 2, 11000 Beograd, Serbia. Tel: +381 11 2643 694; Fax: +381 11 2643 694.
S.D. Jesic
- Clinical Center of Serbia, Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Belgrade, Serbia and University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
A.A. Mikic
- Clinical Center of Serbia, Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Belgrade, Serbia and University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
N.A. Arsovic
- Clinical Center of Serbia, Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Belgrade, Serbia and University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
N.R. Tomanovic
- Institute of Pathology, University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia

Accepted 2 June 2010. published online 20 July 2010.

Abstract

Parapharyngeal tumors account for 0.5% of head and neck tumors. They are difficult to diagnose because they have few symptoms and are surgically inaccessible. This retrospective study included 61 patients with parapharyngeal space tumors, treated in the last 20 years. The data, obtained from the medical records, included symptoms and clinical signs, diagnostic procedures, surgical approach, postoperative complications and histopathological findings. The most common symptoms were dysphagia, foreign body sensation, pain, and symptom-free patients. For precise tumor localization and its relation to adjacent structures, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and contrast angiography were used. All the patients were treated surgically. The commonest surgical approach was transcervical, followed by transoral and combined transcervical–transoral. Histopathological examination verified that the origin of these tumors was most frequently salivary or neurogenic.

Key words: parapharyngeal tumors, symptoms, clinical signs, surgical approach, histopathology