Pre-mental foramen mandibulotomy for resecting tumors of tongue base and parapharyngeal space.
BACKGROUND
Resection of tumors arising from the tongue base and the parapharyngeal space is difficult for exposure and manipulation because of their obscure location. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical approach of the pre-mental foramen mandibulotomy for resecting the tumors of tongue base and parapharyngeal space.


METHODS
Fifty-one patients with tumors of tongue base and parapharyngeal space were treated using the mandibulotomy approach on the pre-mental foramen. In the present study, this technique was described in detail. The patients were followed up for three months to six years with a mean of 26 months.


RESULTS
The tumors of tongue base and parapharyngeal space could be exposed clearly and be resected radically by surgical approach of pre-mental foramen mandibulotomy. The surgical complications were reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to other surgical approaches, such as lateral mandibulotomy, midline mandibulotomy, the suprahyoid parapharyngeal approach, and paramedian mandibulotomy, we found that the pre-mental foramen mandibulotomy is the ideal choice for resecting the tumors of tongue base and parapharyngeal space.
Yu
Guang-yan
GY
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China. gyyu@263.net
Zhang
Lei
L
Guo
Chuan-bin
CB
Huang
Min-xian
MX
Mao
Chi
C
Peng
Xin
X
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*