Preoperative assessment of parapharyngeal tumour

Abstract

Due to deep seated location and presence of vital structures, the tumours of the parapharyngeal space poses difficulty in its early diagnosis, histological nature and surgical extirpation. Modes of radiological assessment in pre-computed tomography (GT) scan era were sialography of the parotid gland to see whether the tumour is of salivary origin and angiography to note the vascularity of the tumour. Post CT scan era has changed the assessment protocol. In this article, the authors have tried to make a comparative evalua?tion between non-contrast GT, GT with systemic contrast and GT sialogram in 14 cases of parapharyngeal tumours. Angiography was done only when the tumours showed marked enhancement with systemic contrast. Subsequently, 13 patients underwent surgery for removal of the mass. Application of high-resolution GT helped in not only to see the extent of the tumour but also to pinpoint the probable histologic nature.