Abstract
The radiologically defined parapharyngeal space is a distinct location on cross-sectional imaging and is often described based on its displacement or invasion by tumors or other pathologies in adjacent spaces; however, there are multiple primary pathologic entities of the parapharyngeal space, which are often forgotten. Recognizing that a lesion is arising from the parapharyngeal space is important in generating an accurate differential diagnosis that will guide management.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Harnsberger HR, Osborn AG. Differential diagnosis of head and neck lesions based on their space of origin. 1. The suprahyoid part of the neck. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1991;157:147–54. https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.157.1.2048510.
Bulut OC, Giger R, Alwagdani A, Aldabal N, Stenzinger A, Heimgartner S, Nisa L, Borner U. Primary neoplasms of the parapharyngeal space: diagnostic and therapeutic pearls and pitfalls. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021;278:4933–41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-06718-4.
Virós Porcuna D, Pardo Muñoz L, Viña Soria C, Nicastro V, Palau Viarnès M, Pollán Guisasola C. A retrospective analysis of surgery in prestyloid parapharyngeal tumors: lateral approaches vs transoral robotic surgery. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2021;6:1062–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.662.
Riffat F, Dwivedi RC, Palme C, Fish B, Jani P. A systematic review of 1143 parapharyngeal space tumors reported over 20 years. Oral Oncol. 2014;50:421–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oraloncology.2014.02.007.
Shin JH, Lee HK, Kim SY, Choi CG, Suh DC. Imaging of parapharyngeal space lesions: focus on the prestyloid compartment. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2001;177:1465–70. https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.177.6.1771465.
Vargas N, Assadsangabi R, Birkeland A, Bewley A, Broadhead K, Morisada M, Ivanovic V. Pre-styloid parapharyngeal space masses-tumor margins as a predictor of benign versus malignant histology on pre-operative CT or MRI. Neuroradiol J. 2022;35:701–5. https://doi.org/10.1177/19714009221089027.
Friedman E, Patino MO, Abdel Razek AAK. MR imaging of salivary gland tumors. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2022;30:135–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mric.2021.07.006.
Hiyama T, Kuno H, Sekiya K, Oda S, Kobayashi T. Imaging of malignant minor salivary gland tumors of the head and neck. Radiographics. 2021;41:175–91. https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.2021200062.
Kakkar C, Shetty CM, Koteshwara P, Bajpai S. Telltale signs of peripheral neurogenic tumors on magnetic resonance imaging. Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2015;25:453–8. https://doi.org/10.4103/0971-3026.169447.
Demehri S, Belzberg A, Blakeley J, Fayad LM. Conventional and functional MR imaging of peripheral nerve sheath tumors: initial experience. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2014;35:1615–20. https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A3910.
Bulkeley W, Mills OL, Gonzalvo A, Wong K. Osteolipoma of the parapharyngeal space mimicking liposarcoma: a case report. Head Neck. 2012;34:301–3. https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.21534.
Rogers J, Patil Y, Strickland-Marmol L, Padhya T. Lipomatous tumors of the parapharyngeal space: case series and literature review. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010;136:621–4. https://doi.org/10.1001/archoto.2010.93.
Murphey MD, Arcara LK, Fanburg-Smith J. From the archives of the AFIP: imaging of musculoskeletal liposarcoma with radiologic-pathologic correlation. Radiographics. 2005;25:1371–95. https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.255055106.
Menapace D, Mitkov M, Towbin R, Hogeling M. The changing face of complicated infantile hemangioma treatment. Pediatr Radiol. 2016;46:1494–506. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-016-3643-6.
Fakhry N, Varoquaux A, Michel J, Giovanni A. Venolymphatic vascular malformation in the parapharyngeal space. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012;147:796–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599812442613.
Flors L, Leiva-Salinas C, Maged IM, Norton PT, Matsumoto AH, Angle JF, Hugo Bonatti M, Park AW, Ahmad EA, Bozlar U, Housseini AM, Huerta TE, Hagspiel KD. MR imaging of soft-tissue vascular malformations: diagnosis, classification, and therapy follow-up. Radiographics. 2011;31:1321–40. https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.315105213. discussion 40–1.
Backhouse SS, Shone GR, Douglas-Jones AG. Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia of the parapharyngeal space. J Laryngol Otol. 1998;112:802–4. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022215100141763.
Malik A, Joshi P, Thanky H, Chaturvedi P. Unusual parapharyngeal space neoplasms. Indian J Surg. 2015;77:1407–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12262-014-1146-y.
Foma W, Pegbessou E, Amana B, Kpemissi E. Left parapharyngeal ectopic goitre associated with eutopic thyroid and postoperative Horner’s syndrome. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2017;134:207–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anorl.2017.01.002.
Maruya S, Miura K, Tada Y, Masubuchi T, Nakamura N, Fushimi C, Sakashita T, Monma T, Kamata SE. Inflammatory pseudotumor of the parapharyngeal space: a case report. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2010;37:397–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anl.2009.08.002.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
R.K. Rigsby performed the literature search, wrote the initial manuscript draft, critically revised the work, and gave approval of the final draft. A.A. Bhatt initially conceived the idea for this article, critically revised the work, and gave approval of the final draft.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
R.K. Rigsby and A.A. Bhatt declare that they have no competing interests.
Ethical standards
For this article no studies with human participants or animals were performed by any of the authors. All studies mentioned were in accordance with the ethical standards indicated in each case. Ethical approval was waived by the local Institutional Review Board of Mayo Clinic in view of the retrospective nature of the study and all the imaging and procedures performed being part of routine patient care. The need for informed consent was waived by the local Institutional Review Board of Mayo Clinic in view of the retrospective nature of the study and all the imaging and procedures performed being part of routine patient care. No identifiable personal data were collected.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Rigsby, R.K., Bhatt, A.A. Primary Pathology of the Parapharyngeal Space. Clin Neuroradiol 33, 897–906 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-023-01316-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-023-01316-9