A study on 29 cases of parapharyngeal space tumors involving malignancies

Abstract

Introduction: Although many tumors arising from parapharyngeal space are benign, we sometimes find malignant tumors. We have attempted to examine the clinical findings of parapharyngeal tumor in our institution and to consider how to deal with malignant tumor. Materials: There were 29 cases of parapharyngeal space tumors involving malignancies in our institution. Results: There were 20 benign cases composed of 7 cases of schwannoma, 6 cases of pleomorphic adenoma, 3 cases of paraganglioma, and one case each of cavernous haemangioma, cyst and meningioma, basal cell adenoma. On the other hand, there were 4 malignant tumors composed of one case each of malignant schwannoma, carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma and malignant paraganglioma. We presumed that one cases out of the 4 malignancies cases was a malignant tumor from the preoperative image findings. However, it was difficult to diagnose the other 3 cases with malignancies by investigation. Discussion: Malignant tumors occurring in the parapharyngeal space were distributed salivary gland tumors and others. Because salivary gland tumor grow earlier and invade muscles, nerves and vessels rapidly, it is difficult to treat them radically. On the other hand, because the tumors arising from the salivary gland have a specific pathology, and exhibit slow growth, patients can expect a long life term despite having such tumors. In our examination, death occurred in one case only, the carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma.