A Case of Cavernous Hemangioma in the Parapharyngeal Space as a Neurogenic Tumor

Abstract

Received April 4, 2012 Revised June 11, 2012 Accepted June 21, 2012 Address for correspondence Yang-Sun Cho, MD Department of OtorhinolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, 50 Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-710, Korea Tel +82-2-3410-3578 Fax +82-2-3410-3879 E-mail yscho@skku.edu Hemangiomas are the most common benign neoplasms, which frequently involve the region of head and neck. However, cavernous hemangiomas are extremely rare in the parapharyngeal space and there has been only a few case reports regarding the disease found in this region. Recently, we experienced a 57-year-old female patient with cavernous hemangioma involving the infratemporal fossa and parapharyngeal space. This case was surgically managed using the infratemporal fossa approach type B. Preoperatively, it was difficult to differentiate the mass of cavernous hemangioma from a neurogenic tumor and this led to a massive bleeding during the operawtion. The preoperative decision-making process and the role of diagnostic imaging were discussed with literature reviews. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2012;55:521-6 Key WordsZZCavernous ᆞHemangioma ᆞParapharyngeal space.