Abstract:ObjectiveTo explore the diagnosis and the selection of surgical approaches for parapharyngeal space tumors.MethodsClinical data of 52 patients with parapharyngeal space tumors surgically treated were analyzed retrospectively. The data included clinical symptoms, signs, surgical approaches and postoperative pathological results.ResultsThe adopted surgical approaches were transcervical (23/52, 44.2%), transcervical-parotid (14/52, 27%), transmandibular (10/52, 19.2%) and intraoral (5/52, 9.6%). Postoperative pathology revealed that benign tumor held a majority (80.8%) and malignancy accounted for 19.2%. As for the primary lesions, slavery gland tumors and neurogenic tumors accounted for 46.2% and 28.8% of the total respectively. Complete resection of the tumors was achieved in 48 cases with recurrence rate of 30% (3/10) in patients with malignant tumors and 7.1% (3/42) in benign ones.ConclusionIt is important to prejudge the properties and anatomical relationships with vital structures of the parapharyngeal space tumors through CT, MRI and pathological examination. Selection of appropriate surgical approach can benefit full exposure of tumor, improvement of surgical safety, and decrease of postoperative complications.