PARAPHARYNGEAL SPACE TUMORS - THE INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA APPROACH

Tumors of the parapharyngeal space, although mostly benign in their hi stopathology, present a challenge to the surgeon due to the limited ac cess. Multiple approaches have been described in the literature for th e extirpation of these tumors. The usual anatomic division of the para pharyngeal space into prestyloid and poststyloid spaces does not help the clinician determine which approach to use for a specific tumor. We have reviewed out 10-year experience at the University of Zurich. The usual presentation of the patients and the histopathologic characteri stics of their tumors are compared. The radiological evaluation of the se patients, their perioperative course, and complications are analyze d. The different surgical techniques used to treat the 72 patients in our series are described, with a special emphasis on the infratemporal fossa approach. Furthermore, a clinical division of the parapharyngea l space in the superior-inferior axis is estabilished. The usefulness of this classification in helping the surgeon to decide which surgical approach is the most suitable for a particular lesion is discussed.