Study on sectional anatomy of parapharyngeal space and CT

Objective:To study the sectional anatomy of parapharyngeal space,establish and refine the basis for CT diagnosis.Methods:Twenty corpuses of died adult were studied,after the heads and necks were scanned with CT,cross-sectional samples were made,anatomical structures of parapharyngeal space of the samples were observed by the pharyngeal recess level,and sizes of the parapharyngeal space of the samples were measured.Results:Structure of parapharyngeal space was similar to triangle at pharyngeal recess level,the measurements of sample cross-sectional and CT area were(447.6 ± 2.18) mm2(left),(446.4 ± 2.10) mm2(right) and(42.6 ± 3.12) mm2(left),(43.1 ± 2.96) mm2(right),respectively,the parapharyngeal space and structures on both sides of the head and neck were of symmetry.Anterior and posterior parapharyngeal space were determined by a line between the styloid process and the pharyngeal recess,anatomical structures of the posterior parapharyngeal space and their relations could be better displayed on CT images.Conclusion:The parapharyngeal adipose tissue,internal carotid artery,jugular vein,styloid process,and lateral pterygoid muscle are important anatomy marks of diagnostic CT,the cross-sectional anatomy of parapharyngeal space has important clinical significance on the imag diagnosis of disease.