Clinical Anatomy of the Parapharyngeal Space. Study by Imaging of CT and MRI.

The parapharyngeal region of one cadaver was dissected, and enhanced CT scans and T1 weighted MRI of three normal persons from the skull base to the hyoid bone were performed. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the parapharyngeal space was carried out on the basis of CT images. We examined the relationship between the parapharyngeal space which consisted mainly of fatty tissue and the surrounding structures. Our findings seem to be useful for the understanding of the shape and location of the parapharyngeal space and the clinical understanding of parapharyngeal space tumors. We discussed the differences between the parapharyngeal space and the carotid space with the 9th-12th cranial nerves, sympathetic chain, carotid artery and jugular vein.