Management of parapharyngeal space tumors with transparotid–transcervical approach: analysis of prognostic factors related with disease-control and functional outcomes

Purpose: Different therapeutic strategies have been developed to improve surgical and functional outcome of parapharyngeal space (PPS) neoplasms. The transparotid–transcervical approach (TTa) is a valid surgical option to manage most PPS tumors. Its short- and long-term disease control and cranial nerve (c.n.) function outcomes have not been discussed extensively. Methods: All patients who underwent TTa over a 10-year period at a tertiary academic center were retrospectively reviewed. Data about preoperative imaging, clinical presentation, tumor’s size, location and histology, and postoperative oncological and functional results were registered and analyzed. Results: Sixty patients matched the inclusion criteria. Most of the lesions were benign (71.7%), involved the prestyloid PPS (63.3%) and measured more than 30 mm (75%). Fifty-two (86.7%) lesions were resected en-bloc. Clear margins were achieved in 91.7% of the cases, with positive margins solely associated with malignancy (p = 0.008). Post-operative c.n. function was satisfactory, with X c.n. function significantly associated with the retrostyloid location (p =.00) and neurogenic tumors (p = 0.02). Local disease-control was achieved in 96% of the cases after a median follow-up of 46 (± 19.7–82.0 IQR) months. Conclusions: The TTa was safe and effective, achieving a satisfactory local control rate. Nevertheless, malignancies maintain a higher rate of positive margin due to their infiltrative nature and the complex anatomy of the PPS. In such cases, multiportal approaches might be more effective. However, post-operative c.n. function remained satisfactory, irrespective of lesions’ size and histopathologic behavior. A higher X c.n. deficit rate was observed in retrostyloid and neurogenic lesions.