Surgical approaches for pleomorphic adenoma of the parapharyngeal space.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyse the outcomes of surgery for pleomorphic adenoma of the parapharyngeal space in relation to the surgical approach.

METHOD: This was a single-centre retrospective data analysis conducted from January 2008 to December 2020 on all patients who underwent operation for pleomorphic adenoma originating from the parapharyngeal space.

RESULTS

Twenty-one patients with a mean age of 52.6 years were included. The transparotid-transcervical approach was the most common (52.4 per cent, n = 11) surgical approach, followed by transoral robotic surgery (28.6 per cent, n = 6) and conventional transoral surgery (19 per cent, n = 4). Post-operative complications included nine cases of transient partial facial nerve palsy and two cases of Frey's syndrome after the transparotid-transcervical approach and 2 cases of transient trismus and 1 pharyngeal wound dehiscence in the conventional transoral approach group. Complete macroscopic excision was always achieved, and no recurrence occurred during follow up.

CONCLUSION

These three approaches can provide adequate tumour visualisation, a high rate of clear excisional margins and an acceptable morbidity.