A few series of parapharyngeal space tumours have been reported earlier but recently not many series have been published in English literature. It is rare for any medical center, let alone an individual surgeon, to develop sufficient experience in evaluating these tumours. We present our experience in the treatment of 41 cases of parapharyngeal tumours from January 1992 to December 2001. FNAC, ultrasound and CT scan of the presenting mass was done in most of the patients as the main pre-operative work-up. The strategic location and extension of the tumour may occasionally alter the surgical approach for tumour excision.
Neonatal stridor resulting from intrinsic or extrinsic aberration in the upper respiratory tract often poses not only a diagnostic problem, but also a difficult airway and a dilemma as to the necessity / timing of surgical intervention. A 45 day old female child with increasing stridor since birth was managed by emergency intubation and CT scan followed by excision biopsy of the cystic left sided parapharyngeal mass via a transcervical approach. On histopathology, the excised specimen was reported as cystic salivary choristoma.