[The peripharyngeal space. Anatomy and normal imaging]

Sectional anatomy and dissection allow topographic study of the peripharyngeal region. Anatomic study has been performed by projection on the skull base of the limiting fascia and by 6 mm thick anatomic slices in the three fundamental planes. Three spaces are identified: retropharyngeal space represents a slipping structure upon the cervical spine. The prestylian space is mostly formed by an adipose column along the pharynx and by the medial part of the parotid gland. The retrosylian space includes the internal jugular and carotid vessels, the four last cranial nerves and the cervical part of the laterovertebral sympathetic trunk. CT an MR imaging were performed on ten patients with cervical or cephalic diseases distant from peripharyngeal regions. CT imaging is only useful in axial and frontal views for the prestylian space. MR imaging is the best method to visualize the three components of the peripharyngeal region. Confronting sectional imaging with anatomic slices allows better recognizing of limits and contents of the different parts of peripharyngeal regions.