THE BUCCAL SPACE - A DOORWAY FOR PERCUTANEOUS CT-GUIDED BIOPSY OF THEPARAPHARYNGEAL REGION

We performed percutaneous CT-guided needle biopsies with a transfacial approach in the diagnosis of lesions of the parapharyngeal region. Vi a the buccal space, core needle biopsy specimens were obtained in eigh t patients with known parapharyngeal abnormalities identified by CT an d/or MR imaging. In all cases, sufficient tissue was obtained to provi de a definitive histologic diagnosis. There were no significant compli cations. This approach provides a reliable method for evaluation of pa rapharyngeal lesions.