Dos tipos de neoformaciones del espacio parafaríngeo, dos ejemplos de abordajes (externo y endoscópico)

Abstract

Introduction and objective: The parapharyngeal space is a deep space of the head and neck of important anatomical difficulty. Although it is a region where only 0.5% of craniocervical tumors are located and most of these are benign, it presents a large number of neurovascular structures essential for the patient's life, and since the optimal treatment of these neoformations is surgical, the study and knowledge of this area is essential for proper patient care. Methods: We present two cases of patients operated on for large tumors of the parapharyngeal space in the Otorhinolaryngology Department of the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid (HCUV) in the last 3 years using two different approaches (external approach and endoscopic endonasal approach). Results: The first patient is a 79-year-old man who underwent a right cervicotomy, excision of a parapharyngeal-cervical tumor and transoral excision (TOUSS) of a base of tongue tumor due to an acinar cell carcinoma located in the right parapharyngeal pre-stylar space. The second patient is a 42-year-old female patient operated by endoscopic nasosinusal surgery (transpterygoid approach of the infratemporal fossa) for a tumor occupying the left pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossae with a diagnosis of schwannoma. Discussion: External approaches have classically been the most widely used surgical approach, mainly because of their optimal exposure of the entire surgical field. Its main disadvantages are the great impact on tissue functionality, postoperative complications, surgical time and hospitalization time as in the case of the first patient, who required a 10-day hospitalization, two days of post-surgical orotracheal intubation, rehabilitation and complementary post-surgical treatment with radiotherapy. Endoscopic approaches avoid facial scarring and have more comfortable and less painful postoperative periods for patients, as in the case of the second patient, with a 3-day hospital stay. Their limited visibility, less control of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in case of injury, and the possibility of tumor spillage (pleomorphic adenoma) make endoscopic approaches of limited application at present. Conclusions: Tumors of the parapharyngeal space are a complex pathology and difficult to treat. Currently, complete surgical excision remains the treatment of choice. Because this anatomical area is particularly complex and presents a wide variety of relevant neurovascular structures, a thorough pre-surgical study of these structures is essential to avoid complications.