This study reviewed 24 cases of parapharyngeal space tumour treated at Kurume University Hospital between 1990 and 2007. Histological diagnoses were generally obtained from the excised tumour (22/24). Seventy-seven per cent of the parapharyngeal space tumours were benign and 23 per cent were malignant. Thirty-eight per cent (eight of 22) of these tumours were pleomorphic adenomas and 23 per cent (five of 22) were schwannomas. A transparotidectomy and transcervical approach were used in 88 per cent (15/17) of benign tumours. A mandibular swing approach was used for one malignant tumour. Post-operative complications were identified in 16 of 22 patients. The most common complication, facial nerve paralysis, was identified in eight patients, and seven of these patients demonstrated first bite syndrome. In consideration of the high incidence of post-operative complications, the surgical approach should therefore be carefully selected when treating patients with parapharyngeal space tumours.

Selective (intra-arterial), rapid infusion chemo-radiotherapy may enable laryngeal preservation in patients with advanced laryngeal carcinoma.

No abstract

Malignant melanoma usually occurs in tissues containing large numbers of melanocytes, such as the skin, mucosa and eye, and is one of the most highly malignant tumors known. No satisfactory treatment results have ever been reported. We report here an effective course of immunotherapy consisting of the local injection and intra-venous administration of autologous tumor-cell-stimulated cytotoxic T lymphocytes in a patient with recurrent malignant melanoma.The patient was a 45-year-old woman. She had been diagnosed as having malignant melanoma in 1996 and under went radio-chemotherapy at our hospital. Seven years later, recurrences were recognized in bilateral nasal cavities. Following systematic chemotherapy, 23 local injections of cytotoxic T lymphocytes were performed. Mediastinal lymphonode metastasis was recognized in March, 2004, so 15 additional intravenous administrations of cytotoxic T lymphocytes were performed. At present, no obvious regrowth has been recognized. Immunotherapy using cytotoxic T lymphocytes may be a useful strategy for controlling recurrent malignant melanoma.