The parapharyngeal space is a potential space which contains important neurovascular structures. The tumors arising in this space are rare. Most of the tumors are originated from salivary glands and neurogenic tissues which are the contents of
this
space.
We studied retrospectively 17 patients who had been diagnosed as the tumor of parapharyngeal space from Jan. 1987 to June 1993, and obtained the following results.
1) There were 7 males and 10 females with a sex ratio of 1:14. The age distribution was from 7 to 74 years old with a peak incidence in the fourth decade(35.3%).
2) The palpable neck mass was the most common chief complaint(11 cases, 64.7%).
3) Histopathologically, there were 6 neurilemmomas, 5 paragangliomas, 2 pleomorphic adenomas a neurofibroma, a monomorphic adenoma, a malignant mixed tumor and an acinic cell carcinoma.
4) The methods of treatment were surgical excision in 14 cases and radiation therapy in one case.
5) The surgical complications were vocal cord paralysis in 3 cases, and Homer's syndrome and transient facial nerve paralysis in one each.
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