Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T11:11:08.503Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Novel use of ultrasound-guided endo-cavitary probe to evaluate an impalpable parapharyngeal mass

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2009

A Riskalla*
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Centre, University College Hospital, London, UK
A Arora
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Centre, University College Hospital, London, UK
F Vaz
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Centre, University College Hospital, London, UK
P O'Flynn
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Centre, University College Hospital, London, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr A Riskalla, University College Hospital, Head and Neck Services, First Floor East 250, Euston Road, London NW1 2PG, UK. E-mail: ariskalla@yahoo.com

Abstract

Aim:

We present a novel, previously undescribed technique of obtaining a biopsy from an inaccessible parapharyngeal space mass.

Method:

A modified endo-cavitary ultrasound probe was utilised to obtain an intra-oral, image-guided core biopsy of a parapharyngeal tumour. The parapharyngeal mass was not accessible to percutaneous ultrasound-guided biopsy due to its anatomical location.

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, this is the first such modification of the conventional endo-cavitary probe technique described in the literature. The technique permits accurate, well controlled biopsy of lesions located high in the parapharyngeal space, under general anaesthesia.

Type
Short Communication
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Oliai, BR, Sheth, S, Burroughs, FH, Ali, SZ. “Parapharyngeal space” tumours: a cytopathological study of 24 cases on fine-needle aspiration. Diagn Cytopathol 2005;32:1115CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Pang, KP, Goh, CHK, Tan, HM. Parapharyngeal space tumours: an 18 year review. J Laryngol Otol 2002;116:170–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Farag, TY, Lin, FR, Koch, WM, Caifano, JA, Cummings, CW, Farinola, MA et al. The role of pre-operative CT-guided FNAB for parapharyngeal space tumors. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007;136:411–14CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4Rebol, J, Takae, I, Bumber, Z. Intraoral sonographic evaluation of parapharyngeal space tumours. J Clin Ultrasound 2001;29:302–5Google Scholar