How we do it: a series of 114 primary pharyngeal space neoplasms

Abstract

Primary parapharyngeal space tumours are exceedingly rare. We present a series of 114 parapharyngeal space tumours, the second largest in the literature. The most frequent benign tumours were pleomorphic adenoma (34) and paraganglioma (33); the commonest malignancies were of salivary gland origin (12). The 5- and 10-year survival for benign tumours was 100%. The 5- and 10-year survival for malignancies was 93% and 57% respectively. The importance of long-term follow-up is evidently crucial.