Pre-mental foramen mandibulotomy for resecting tumors of tongue base and parapharyngeal space

• Published in: Chinese medical journal Vol. 118; no. 21; pp. 1803 - 1807
• Main Authors: Yu, Guang-yan, Zhang, Lei, Guo, Chuan-bin, Huang, Min-xian, Mao, Chi, Peng, Xin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Department of Oral and Maxilofacial Surgery,Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China 05.11.2005
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Male; Mandible - surgery; Middle Aged; Pharyngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Pharyngeal Neoplasms - surgery; Tongue Neoplasms - pathology; Tongue Neoplasms - surgery; 治疗方法; 精神因素; 肿瘤切除术; 舌肿瘤; parapharyngeal tumor; tumor of the tongue base; surgical approach; pre-mental foramen mandibulotomy
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641

Background Resection of tumors arising from the tongue base and the parapharyngeal space is difficult for exposure and manipulation because of their obscure location. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical approach of the pre-mental foramen mandibulotomy for resecting the tumors of tongue base and parapharyngeal space. Methods Fifty-one patients with tumors of tongue base and parapharyngeal space were treated using the mandibulotomy approach on the pre-mental foramen. In the present study, this technique was described in detail. The patients were followed up for three months to six years with a mean of 26 months. Results The tumors of tongue base and parapharyngeal space could be exposed clearly and be resected radically by surgical approach of pre-mental foramen mandibulotomy. The surgical complications were reduced. Conclusions Compared to other surgical approaches, such as lateral mandibulotomy, midline mandibulotomy, the suprahyoid parapharyngeal approach, and paramedian mandibulotomy, we found that the pre-mental foramen mandibulotomy is the ideal choice for resecting the tumors of tongue base and parapharyngeal space.