Mandibular osteotomies for access to select parapharyngeal space neoplasms.
BACKGROUND
Tumors involving the parapharyngeal space present a challenge of surgical access.


METHODS
We reviewed all parapharyngeal space tumors resected at the University of California, San Francisco, between 2003 and 2006 and identified 14 patients who had a mandibular osteotomy to enhance surgical access to the parapharyngeal space.


RESULTS
The surgical approach for the 14 patients who had a mandibulotomy was accomplished via either 1 or 2 mandibular osteotomies. A single paramedian osteotomy between the canine and the first premolar was used in 4 cases, whereas a combination of a horizontal osteotomy above the lingula and a paramedian osteotomy between the canine and first premolar was employed in 8 cases. A lingual dental splint and rigid fixation were used to achieve mandibular stabilization and fixation.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that the single and double mandibular osteotomies provided excellent surgical access allowing for total tumor removal with few sequelae.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Antonia
A
Kolokythas
David W
DW
Eisele
Ivan
I
El-Sayed
Brian L
BL
Schmidt
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D004210:Dissection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies