Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Anatomy, Head and neck, CT, MR, Biopsy, Radiation therapy / Oncology, Surgery, Education and training
Authors:
A. Abeysekera, J. Gillespie
DOI:
10.26044/ranzcr2022/R-0189
Background
The parapharyngeal space (PPS) is an inverted pyramid shaped space that extends from the skull base to the level of the hyoid bone, on either side of the pharynx (1). In traditional surgical anatomy, the PPS is divided into two compartments by the styloid process and the tensor-vascular-styloid (TVS) fascia. The compartment anterior to the styloid process (or pre-styloid PPS) contains mostly fat and the compartment posterior to the styloid process (or post-styloid PPS) contains the major vascular structures. More recently, Harnsberger described the post-styloid PPS as the carotid space.(2)
This poster will demonstrate a series of lesions in and around the carotid space (post-styloid PPS) and the features that can help to determine the site of lesion origin. These lesions include salivary glandular tumours, schwannomas, lipomas, paragangliomas and nodal metastases.