Muscle tumors in the parapharyngeal space

Tumors arising in the parapharyngeal space are rare. Even more rare are those which originate from the pharyngeal and parapharyngeal musculature. Three examples of muscle tumors presenting as paraphyarngeal masses are reported, ie, a rhabdomyoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and a leiomyosarcoma, and the literature pertaining to these tumors is reviewed. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first case of a parapharyngeal leiomyosarcoma reported in the literature.