Parapharyngeal tumours – a therapeutic challenge

Neoplasms of the parapharyngeal space are rare tumours and present a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic challenge due to the anatomical complexity and the variance of pathologies. The differential diagnoses of neoplasms of the parapharyngeal space are extensive and can be roughly divided into tumours of the salivary glands, nervous and connective tissue as well as lymphatic lesions, cysts and metastatic metastases.

We present the case of a 51-year-old woman who was under medical treatment for headache and depression. An MRI of the head revealed an extensive tumor in the parapharyngeal space that extended from the deep lobe of the parotid gland to the cranial level to the base of the skull. Surgical exploration and tumor extirpation was examined via a transcervical approach. The histopathological examination revealed a pleomorphic adenoma.

Even though neoplasms in the parapharyngeal space are rather rare, accounting for 0.5% of all head and neck tumours, and are mostly benign in character, malignancies are also found in about 15%. In addition to observational and radiotherapeutic approaches, surgery is perhaps the most important pillar in the management of these neoplasms. Essential for surgical treatment are pretherapeutic imaging and the surgeon's understanding of the vascular and neural anatomy of the parapharyngeal space.

Publication History

Article published online:
24 May 2022