[Surgical approach to parapharyngeal space tumors].

Introduction: Parapharyngeal space tumors are very rare comprising 0.5% of head and neck tumors. Tumors of this symptomatology as well as considerable surgical issue owing to inaccessibility.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective twenty-year study of patients with parapharyngeal space tumors included 69 patients. Data were obtained from medical records, and were pointed to diagnostic procedures, surgical approach and pathohistological findings. Symptoms and clinical signs were also investigated.

Results: Preoperative diagnostics is very important for precise tumor localization and relation to adjacent structures. Computerized tomography was the most common method used, and recently, magnetic resonance imaging and indication-based contrast angiography have been applied. All of 69 patients with parapharyngeal space tumors were treated surgically. The most often approach to this tumor was transcervical (62%), then transoral approach and combination transcervical transoral approach. Pathohistological examination verified that most of the tumors were benign (75%) and origin of these tumors was most frequently salivary (42%).

Conclusion: For making a decision on surgical approach, diagnostic methods, other than thorough examination, such as computerized tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MR), are necessary to be applied.