title: Minimally invasive surgery for parapharyngeal space tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Parapharyngeal space (PS) tumors are surrounded by critical anatomical structures. Resection is often challenging due to limited surgical exposure. Herein, we report a novel transcervical, minimally invasive, video-assisted technique that facilitates the resection of PS lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series and review of literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Description of surgical technique with analysis of four cases and literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The technique combines a transcervical approach to the PS and skull base with video-assisted and image-guided dissection of tumor. Four cases of benign PS tumors resected with this technique are reported. The size of the tumor excised varied between 0.9 cm and 5 cm. Estimated blood losses were minimal. The average length of hospital stay was 1.5 days. No permanent complications were encountered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excision of PS tumor abutting the skull base using a novel minimally invasive, video-assisted, image-guided, transcervical approach is feasible and safe. The short hospitalization stay and low morbidity makes it well suited for the resection of benign PS lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Beswick
authors.forename: Alec
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaezi
authors.forename: Emiro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caicedo-Granados
authors.forename: Umamaheswar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Duvvuri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010614:Pharynx; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery