title: Endoscopic endonasal anatomy of the nasopharynx in a cadaver model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nasopharyngectomy is an accepted treatment for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma following radiation with or without chemotherapy. Traditionally, the nasopharynx has been approached through relatively invasive "open" techniques including transpalatal, maxillary swing, and trans-mandibular-pterygoid approaches. Contemporary management has included the use of endoscopic techniques to exenterate tumors in this location. The purpose of the present study is to describe the endoscopic anatomy of this region through cadaveric dissection and to characterize the technical limitations of the approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five fresh cadaveric heads were dissected to study the endoscopic anatomy of the nasopharynx and associated structures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endoscopic dissection of the nasopharynx was completed in all 5 specimens. Nasopharyngeal anatomy including the buccopharyngeal fascia, pharyngobasilar fascia, superior constrictor, longus capitus, longus coli, fossa of Rosenmuller, basisphenoid, auditory torus, and internal carotid artery were characterized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical access to the nasopharynx has posed significant challenges in the treatment of recurrent or persistent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This study demonstrated that endoscopic dissection of this region is feasible and has the potential to completely exenterate these lesions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. adam.becker@duke.edu
authors.forename: Adam M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D004210:Dissection; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D059747:Nasal Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology*