Surgical approaches to the parapharyngeal space

Salivary gland tumors are the most common primary lesions that occur in the parapharyngeal space. The current accepted approach to most deep-lobe tumors is the transparotid. For tumors of non-parotid origin, the preferred approach is transcervical. In cases in which the transparotid approach is insufficient, a transcervical, transmandibular approach is safe and offers excellent visualization.