Kaplan, Michael J.

AbstractBackgroundTo identify the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of malignancies involving the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF).MethodsFifty‐seven patients who underwent curative surgery for malignant tumor involving PPF were reviewed.ResultsThe rates for three‐year local control (LC), five‐year disease‐free survival (DFS) and five‐year overall survival (OS) were 55.4%, 34.5%, and 52.7%, respectively. Perineural invasion (PNI) of the maxillary nerve with facial numbness (symptomatic V2 PNI) (P = .04) and cranial involvement (P = .03) were predictors for poor OS. Symptomatic V2 PNI was also a significant predictor for poor LC (P = .05) and DFS (P = .03). Within the subgroup analysis of patients with pathologically confirmed V2 PNI, asymptomatic V2 PNI patients had significantly better LC (71.2% vs 31.8%, P = .05) and DFS (43.8% vs 17.3%, P = .05) compared to symptomatic patients.ConclusionMalignant tumors involving the PPF have diverse pathologies and a poor prognosis. Symptomatic V2 PNI may be an independent poor prognostic factor.