title: Parapharyngeal space benign tumours: our experience.
abstract: Only about 0.5% of all head and neck neoplasms occur in the parapharyngeal space (PPS) and approximately 80% of these tumours are benign lesions. Various surgical approaches some of which are associated with mandibulotomy to increase exposure have been described. This article describes our 16-years' experience in treating 60 PPS benign tumours with special focus on our surgical techniques intended to ensure adequate mass exposure and structure safety. On the basis of our experience we assert that mandibulotomy is currently not advocated in the surgical management of benign PPS tumours i.e. not even in very select cases. The transparotid approach is the treatment of choice for parotid gland lesions involving PPS and in cases of multinodular or uninodular pleomorphic adenoma relapse involving the PPS. The transcervical approach is suitable for the safe removal of even large PPS masses in most cases.
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-Facial Surg. Dept, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00100 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cassoni
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-Facial Surg. Dept, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00100 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: v.terenzi@libero.it.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Terenzi
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-Facial Surg. Dept, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00100 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Della Monaca
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-Facial Surg. Dept, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00100 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Davina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bartoli
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-Facial Surg. Dept, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00100 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Battisti
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-Facial Surg. Dept, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00100 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Oriana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rajabtork Zadeh
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-Facial Surg. Dept, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00100 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentino
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valentini
mesh_terms: D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000601:surgery; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D010614:Pharynx; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Parapharyngeal space benign tumour; Parotid gland; Transcervical approach; Transmandibular approach; Transparotid approach