Parapharyngeal space

Dr Francis Deng and Dr Jeremy Jones ◉ et al.

The parapharyngeal space, also known as the prestyloid parapharyngeal space, is a deep compartment of the head and neck around which most other suprahyoid fascial spaces are arranged. It consists largely of fat, neurovascular structures, and, in some definitions, the retromandibular part of the deep lobe of the parotid gland.

Two naming conventions exist in the literature. In the first definition, familiar to most head and neck surgeons, the parapharyngeal space is divided into prestyloid and poststyloid (retrostyloid) compartments ^1-3. In the second definition, introduced by some radiologists, the prestyloid parapharygeal space is simply termed the parapharyngeal space, and the poststyloid pharapharygeal space is termed the carotid space ^4-6. The latter facilitates differential diagnosis and is used in this article.

Other terms for the parapharyngeal space include the lateral pharyngeal space, pharyngomaxillary space, and even less commonly pterygomaxillary space, pterygopharyngeal space, peripharyngeal space, pterygomandibular space, and pharyngomasticatory space ¹.

Gross anatomy

The parapharyngeal space is shaped like an inverted pyramid, with its base at the skull base, with its apex inferiorly pointing towards the greater cornu of the hyoid bone ².

fat (main component)
vessels
- internal maxillary artery, depending on its course
- ascending pharyngeal artery, depending on its course
- pterygoid venous plexus, in its portion surrounded by fat (the rest is within the masticator space)
nerve
- small branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V₃) supplying the tensor veli palatini muscle
salivary tissue
- minor or ectopic salivary gland/rests
- retromandibular portion of the deep lobe of parotid gland, in some definitions ^1-3

Lymph nodes and muscle are not included in the radiological definition of the parapharyngeal space.

Boundaries

The parapharyngeal space has complex fascial margins occupying the space between the muscles of mastication and the muscles of deglutition ^1-6:

superior: base of skull
inferior: greater cornu of the hyoid bone, although some state the space functionally ends higher, with the styloglossus muscle at the level of the angle of the mandible ¹
medial: middle layer of the deep cervical fascia covering the superior pharyngeal constrictor and levator and tensor veli palatini muscles
lateral: superficial layer of the deep cervical fascia extending between styloid process and mandibular ramus, covering the parotid and lateral pterygoid muscle, although some state the fascia creates the stylomandibular tunnel through which part of the deep lobe of the parotid protrudes into the parapharyngeal space ¹
anterior: pterygomandibular raphe and superficial layer of the deep cervical fascia covering the medial pterygoid muscle
posterior margin: stylopharyngeal aponeurosis or tensor-vascular-styloid fascia, part of the middle layer of the deep cervical fascia, forming the anterior wall of the carotid sheath

Relations

posteromedial to the masticator space, particularly medial pterygoid muscle
anteromedial to the parotid space
posterolateral to the pharyngeal mucosal space
anterolateral to the prevertebral space, retropharyngeal space, and danger space
anterior to the carotid (poststyloid parapharyngeal) space
overlaps with the infratemporal fossa ⁵

Radiographic features

CT/MRI

The parapharyngeal space appears triangular in the axial plane with density/signal consistent with fat.

Knowledge about the displacement patterns of fat within the parapharyngeal space will aid in the localization of lesions within adjacent deep spaces of the head and neck. A lesion arising in the:

masticator space displaces the parapharyngeal fat posteromedially
parotid space displaces the parapharyngeal fat anteromedially
pharyngeal mucosal space displaces the parapharyngeal fat posterolaterally
retropharyngeal space, danger space, and prevertebral space displace the parapharyngeal fat anterolaterally
carotid (poststyloid parapharyngeal) space displaces the parapharyngeal fat anteriorly