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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
Lateral Molar Approach-Driven Transoral Endoscopic Procedure for Benign Infratemporal Fossa Tumor Resection
Published on: August 15, 2025
Mandibular osteotomies for access to select parapharyngeal space neoplasms
Antonia Kolokythas1, David W Eisele, Ivan El-Sayed
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Background:
Tumors involving the parapharyngeal space present a challenge of surgical access.
Methods:
We reviewed all parapharyngeal space tumors resected at the University of California, San Francisco, between 2003 and 2006 and identified 14 patients who had a mandibular osteotomy to enhance surgical access to the parapharyngeal space.
Results:
The surgical approach for the 14 patients who had a mandibulotomy was accomplished via either 1 or 2 mandibular osteotomies. A single paramedian osteotomy between the canine and the first premolar was used in 4 cases, whereas a combination of a horizontal osteotomy above the lingula and a paramedian osteotomy between the canine and first premolar was employed in 8 cases. A lingual dental splint and rigid fixation were used to achieve mandibular stabilization and fixation.
Conclusion:
We found that the single and double mandibular osteotomies provided excellent surgical access allowing for total tumor removal with few sequelae.
