This study was conducted to evaluate the demographic profile, clinicopathological features, and surgical approaches used to treat primary parapharyngeal space tumors.

This was a retrospective study of the primary parapharyngeal space tumors treated surgically from April 2012 to March 2015 in a tertiary care teaching center. The study population included 16 cases. The inflammatory lesions and secondary metastasis in parapharyngeal space were excluded. The clinicopathological features, surgical management, and outcome of all the cases were analyzed.

The gender distribution was 56.2% males and 43.7% females. The median age was 38 years with range from 16 to 62 years. The most common presenting symptom was neck swelling in 87.5% cases, and oropharyngeal bulge was the most common examination finding in 100% cases. Magnetic resonance image was done in 87.5% cases and contrast computed tomography (CT) scan in 31.25% cases, while 25% cases underwent both. The tumor was in the pre-styloid compartment in 62.5% cases and post-styloid in 31.25% cases. In 75% cases, cytology was done directly, while in 25% cases, CT–guided cytology was performed. Cytological diagnosis was histologically correlated in 81.2% cases while changed in 18.7% cases. On histology, 87.5% cases were benign and 12.5% were malignant. The most common histological variant was pleomorphic adenoma in 56.25% cases. The most common surgical approach used was transcervical in 75% cases. Mean tumor size was 7 cm. Complications occurred in 12.5% cases.

Imaging modalities in combination with fine needle aspiration cytology are a very good diagnostic tool before planning for intervention. The transcervical approach is an excellent technique to deal with small to moderate-size tumors and even for large well-defined tumors.

Bist SS, Kumar L, Agarwal V, Shirazi N, Luthra M. A Study of Primary Parapharyngeal Space Tumors in a Tertiary Care Center. Int J Otorhinolaryngol Clin 2016;8(1):13-17.