Usual pathology at an unusual site - pleomorphic adenoma of parapharyngeal space: a rare case report

The parapharyngeal space (PPS) is an inverted triangular pyramid extending from the base of the skull to the hyoid bone. The PPS is divided into 2 compartments by styloid process and its attached muscles and fascia. The anterior or prestyloid compartment is occupied by the deep lobe of the parotid gland, fat and lymphatic nodes, the internal maxillary artery and cranial nerve V branch to tensor veli palatini muscle. In the posterior or poststyloid compartment lies the neurovascular axis, consisting of the carotid artery, jugular vein, cervical sympathetic chain and the cranial nerves IX, X, XI and XII.