title: [Investigation of the surgical approach for resecting infratemporal fossa pterygomaxillary fossa-parapharyngeal space tumor].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the optimal surgical approach for resecting infratemporal fossa-pterygomaxillary fossa-parapharyngeal space tumor. The aim of this study is to enhance therapeutic effect and reduce complications and sequelae.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six patients with infratemporal fossa-pterygomaxillary fossa-parapharyngeal space tumor were analyzed retrospectively from 1998-2004, including complains, symptoms, physical signs; histodiagnosis, image examinations and surgical approaches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No recurrence was found in fifty benign tumor cases after 2 to 5 years, while in 16 cases with malignant tumor, four patients died in one year, 8 cases died in 2 to 4 years, and only 4 patients' survival time exceeded 4 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extended maxillectomy is suitable for resecting primary carcinoma of maxillary sinus invading pterygomaxillary fossa, infratemporal fossa and /or parapharyngeal space tumor. also midface degloving approach is suitable for nasal primary cavity, nasal sinuses, nasopharynx and/or pterygomaxillary fossa tumor and localized malignant tumor. Trans-cervical combining mandibular split swing approach is suitable for parapharyngeal space tumor invading pterygomaxillary fossa and/or infratemporal fossa tumor. Trans-cervical jaw combining mandibulotomy is suitable for resecting parapharyngeal space, infratemporal fossa tumor for invading lateral skull base and pterygomaxillary fossa tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Weijia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Chengzhang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Banghua
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xingao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*