Hot off the press is an article written by three members of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, along with authors from the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Michigan. Titled “Endoscope-Assisted Transcervical Resection of Parapharyngeal Space Tumors,” it was published in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in October 2024. Prior to that, the topic was presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery’s annual meeting in Miami this September.
“The paper examines a novel technique of using an endoscope to remove a parapharyngeal space tumor,” said Matthew E. Spector, MD, FACS, Division Chief, Head and Neck Surgical Oncology & Microvascular Reconstruction, one of the co-authors along with Kevin Contrera, MD, MPH, and Shaum Sridharan, MD. “These tumors can be difficult to reach because of their location. They can typically involve large incisions and can put nerves and other structures at risk. By using an endoscope, we were able to show lower operative times for surgery. They are also minimally invasive with typically smaller incisions, have a lower nerve injury rate, and can have the same oncologic outcomes.”
Visualization is excellent to remove the tumor as well, Dr. Spector added. Endoscopes are already used in other areas, so this was a logical step to try and improve visualization and functional outcomes.
As the paper states, “excision of PPS tumors poses unique challenges, owing to narrow corridors for surgical access, intricate neurovascular anatomy, and potential for significant surgical morbidity.”
This was a single-institution, retrospective cohort study of all patients undergoing transcervical (TC) approach for resection of PPS tumors over a 10-year period (2013-2023). The analytic cohort included 77 patients, the largest published cohort of patients undergoing endoscope-assisted (EA) approach.
Dr. Spector and colleagues are happy to see patients on telehealth for parapharyngeal space tumors. To make an appointment, call 412-647-2100.