Histopathologic classification of parapharyngeal space tumors: a case series and review of the literature.

The objective of the study is to present a large case series of parapharyngeal space tumors (PPST) and the most comprehensive literature review of tumor histopathologic distribution. The study was designed as internal case series and full Pubmed/MEDLINE electronic database review in a tertiary academic medical center. Tumor histopathology and patient demographics were obtained from a comprehensive Pubmed/MEDLINE database review, as well from an internal case series of 117 patients referred to our center between 1993 and 2013. Main outcome and measures of the study were to define the age, gender, and histopathology of PPST within a large internal case series and among the current body of published literature, and to propose a diagnostic and treatment algorithm for these tumors. Our cohort included 117 cases, 58 females and 59 males, with benign tumors comprising 85 % (n = 99) and malignant tumors 15 % (n = 18). A systematic review of published literature from 1963 to the present revealed 37 case series, and when combined with our present series, yielded a total of 2160 cases. Benign tumors are most common (78.8 %), with tumors of salivary gland (44.4 %), neural (34.4 %), and vascular (2.64 %) origin representing the largest subtypes. Pleomorphic adenomas (30.9 %), paragangliomas (13.1 %), and schwannomas (12.3 %) comprised the majority of all cases. Due to their rarity, data regarding the histopathologic distribution of PPST is scarce. We provide one of the largest case series and the most comprehensive review of these tumors in the literature to date, and offer our algorithm for evaluation and treatment.

Cranialization of the frontal sinus for secondary mucocele prevention following open surgery for benign frontal lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To compare frontal sinus cranialization to obliteration for future prevention of secondary mucocele formation following open surgery for benign lesions of the frontal sinus. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary academic medical center. PATIENTS: Sixty-nine patients operated for benign frontal sinus pathology between 1994 and 2011. INTERVENTIONS: Open excision of benign frontal sinus pathology followed by either frontal obliteration (n = 41, 59%) or frontal cranialization (n = 28, 41%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence of post-surgical complications and secondary mucocele formation were compiled. RESULTS: Pathologies included osteoma (n = 34, 49%), mucocele (n = 27, 39%), fibrous dysplasia (n = 6, 9%), and encephalocele (n = 2, 3%). Complications included skin infections (n = 6), postoperative cutaneous fistula (n = 1), telecanthus (n = 4), diplopia (n = 3), nasal deformity (n = 2) and epiphora (n = 1). None of the patients suffered from postoperative CSF leak, meningitis or pneumocephalus. Six patients, all of whom had previously undergone frontal sinus obliteration, required revision surgery due to secondary mucocele formation. Statistical analysis using non-inferiority test reveal that cranialization of the frontal sinus is non-inferior to obliteration for preventing secondary mucocele formation (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Cranialization of the frontal sinus appears to be a good option for prevention of secondary mucocele development after open excision of benign frontal sinus lesions.

A prospective evaluation of short-term health-related quality of life in patients undergoing anterior skull base surgery.

We evaluated the health-related quality of life (QOL) of patients undergoing anterior skull base tumor resection. The Anterior Skull Base Surgery QOL questionnaire, a disease-specific multidimensional instrument dedicated to this population, was used to collect and prospectively analyze demographic, medical, and QOL data on 48 patients. Thirty-nine patients completed the questionnaire preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Seventeen patients (44%) had malignant histology and 22 (56%) had benign tumors. The overall QOL score decreased significantly at 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.05) and improved significantly at 12 months postoperatively (p < 0.04). The emotional domain improved significantly at 12 months postoperatively compared with the preoperative scores (p < 0.03). Patients with malignant tumors had lower scores at 6 months postoperatively compared with patients with benign lesions (p < 0.002), although the scores for both groups at 12 months postoperatively were similar. Adjuvant radiation therapy was associated with a poor QOL (p < 0.005). The results of this prospective study show that the overall deteriorated QOL of patients after anterior skull base tumor resection returns to baseline by 1 year after surgery. Histology and radiotherapy are significant predictors of health-related QOL in this population.