Image guided transnasal endoscopic fine needle aspiration or biopsy of parapharyngeal space tumours

Abstract

Masses in the PPS are relatively rare but do account for 0.5% of all masses arising in the head and neck 1 . Histological identification of the PPS tumour allows the surgeon to make informed decisions on management and can also dictate prognosis. The 5 and 10-year survival for a benign lesion is 100%. Conversely, in malignancy the 5-year survival drops to 82-100% and the 10-year survival drops to 40-74%. This dramatic fall in survival demonstrates a clear role for establishing the histology in the management of the PPS tumour.There are a number of ways to access the PPS with some degree of morbidity, including needle biopsy through the mandibular or maxillofacial areas 4 , biopsy via the buccal space 6 , and directly through the skin or oral mucosa if the lesion is palpable 5 .