Navigation-guided fine needle aspiration for tumor of the parapharyngeal space —A case report

The parapharyngeal space is anatomically difficult to approach, with the great vessels and hypostatic cranial nerve in its vicinity. Therefore, appropriate results may not be obtained without unreasonableness when performing fine needle aspiration preoperatively. We report our experience with navigation-guided fine needle aspiration for a tumor of the parapharyngeal space. In navigation-guided fine needle aspiration, the rate of correct diagnosis is likely to increase by confirming an intratumoral paracentesis needle by a monitor, because we can perform FNA. Also, injury to the great vessels can be avoided when the procedure is performed with enhanced-CT guidance. However, we cannot avoid the risk of nerve injury.