Utility of image guided surgery in the diagnosis of pterygopalatine fossa lesions.

Objectives: To describe the utility of image guided surgery in the diagnosis of pterygopalatine fossa lesions and to discuss the varied pathologic diagnoses from this area.

Study Design: Case series presentation.

Methods: Three cases of pterygopalatine fossa lesions were accessed and biopsied by way of a middle meatus antrostomy approach into the pterygopalatine fossa under image guidance for rapid localization.

Expression of focal adhesion kinase and phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Objectives: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is overexpressed in a variety of human cancers including those derived from the oral cavity. The purpose of this work is to determine the expression patterns of FAK and its activated form, FAK pY397, in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and to correlate FAK expression with tumor differentiation and clinical parameters.

Study Design: A retrospective study using archival tissue.