Abstract
The masticator space (MS) is a deep facial space delineated by a splitting of the deep cervical fascia which encloses the four muscles of mastication: the medial and the lateral pterygoid, the masseter, and the temporalis muscles – hence the denomination of “masticator space” (Harnsberger 1995; Mukherji and Chong 2004). The MS also contains the ramus and posterior body of the mandible and the third division of the fi fth cranial nerve (mandibular trigeminal branch or V3). The V3 nerve gives motor innervation to the mastication muscles and relays sensory information from the inferior teeth, gums and lower lip/chin region through the inferior alveolar nerve. The nerve emerges from the endocranium to the MS through the foramen ovale. The space is easy to identify on both CT and MR images (Figs. 10.1, 10.2) because of easily recognizable shape and location of the mastication muscles (Harnsberger and Osborn 1991; Mukherji and Castillo 1998). The inferior limit of the MS is the attachment of the medial pterygoid muscle to the mandible. The space has two distinct superior margins. The base of the skull is the superior limit of the “infratemporal fossa” or “nasopharyngeal masticator space” which encompasses all soft tissue below the foramen ovale. The second superior margin is the attachment of the temporalis muscle to the outer table of the skull; this part is called the “temporal fossa”, or the “suprazygomatic masticator space” because it is above the zygomatic arch (Fig. 10.2). The MS is separated from the parapharyngeal space by a fascial layer extending from the medial pterygoid muscle to the skull (Curtin 1987). The fascia is also attached to the anterior aspect of the mandibular ramus, has an interface with the oral cavity, and reaches the posterior margin of the ramus, where the masticator space constitutes the anterior border of the parotid space.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Caldemeyer KS,Mathews VP,Righi PD, Smith RR (1998) Imaging featuresandclinicalsignificanceofperineuralspreadorextensions of head and neck tumors. Radiographics 18:97–110
Chong VFH (1997) The masticator space in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Ann Oto Rhinol Laryngol 106:979–982
Chong VFH, Fan YF (1996) Radiology of the masticator space. Clin Radiol 51:457–465
Chong J, Hinckley LK, Ginsberg LE (2000) Masticator space abnormalities associated with mandibular osteoradionecrosis: MR and CT findings in five patients. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 21:175–178
Cole NM, Guiss LW (1969) Extra-abdominal desmoid tumors. Arch Surg 98:530–533
Cunningham MJ, McGuirt WF, Meyers EN (1996) Cancer of head and neck in pediatric population. In: Myers EN, Suen JY (eds) Cancer of head and neck, 3rd edn. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 598–624
Curtin HD (1987) Separation of the masticator space from the parapharyngeal space. Radiology 163:195–204
Davis SB, Mathews VP, Willians DW III (1995) Masticator muscle enhancement in subacute denervation atrophy AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 16:1292–1294
De Batselier P, Reychler H, Youssefpour A, Noël H, de Barsy C, Duprez T (1997) Ostéosarcome de la mandibule. J Radiol 78:461–463
Delbaso AM (1998) An approach to the diagnostic imaging of jaw lesions, dental implants, and temporomandibular joints. Radiol Clin North Am 36:855–890
Eskey CJ, Robson CD,Weber AL (2000) Imaging of benign and malignant soft tissue tumors of the neck.Radiol Clin North Am 38:1091–1104
Hardin CW,Harnsberger HR,Osborn AG,Doxey GP,Davis RK, Nyberg DA (1985) Infection and tumor of the masticator space: CT evaluation. Radiology 157:413–417
Harnsberger HR (1995) Handbook of head and neck imaging, 2nd edn. Mosby-Year Book, St Louis
Harnsberger HR, Osborn AG (1991) Differential diagnosis of head and neck lesions based on their space of origin: the suprahyoid part of the neck. AJR Am J Roentgenol 157:147–154
Hermans R (2003) Imaging of mandibular osteoradionecrosis. Neuroimag Clin North Am 13:597–604
Kyriakos M,El-Mofty S (1999) Pathology of selected soft tissue of head and neck. In: Thawley SE, Panje WR, Batsakis JG, Lindbergg RD (eds) Comprehensive management of head and neck tumors, 2nd edn. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 1322–1394
Marcus RB, Post C, Mancuso AA (1994) Pediatric tumor of the head and neck. In: Million RR, Cassini NJ (eds) Management of head and neck cancer. Lippincott, Philadelphia, pp 811–839
Mukherji SK, Castillo M (1998) A simplified approach to the spaces of the extracranial head and neck.Radiol Clin North Am 36:761–780
Mukherji SK, Chong V (2004) Masticator space. In: Mukherji SK, Chong V (eds) Atlas of head and neck imaging. The extracranial head and neck, 1st edn. Thieme, New York, pp 3–67
Parsons T (1994) The effect of radiation on normal tissues of the head and neck. In: Million RR, Cassini NJ (eds) Management of head and neck cancer. Lippincott, Philadelphia, pp 245–289
Rosai J (1996) Oral cavity and oropharynx. In: Rosai J (ed) Ackerman’s surgical pathology, 8th edn. Mosby, St. Louis, pp 223–255
Russo CP, Smoker WRK, Weismann JL (1997) MR appearance of trigeminal and hypoglossal motor denervation. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 18:1375–1383
Schellhas KP (1989) MR imaging of muscles of mastication. AJR Am J Roentgenol 153:847–55
Smirniotopoulos JG, Murphy FM (1996) Central nervous system manifestations of the phakomatoses and other inherited syndrome. In: Atlas SW (ed) Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and of the spine,2nd edn.Raven Press, Philadelphia, pp 773–802
Waldhart E, Lynch JB (1971) Benign hypertrophy of the masseter muscles and mandibular angles. Arch Surg 102:115–118
Weber AL, Montandon C, Robson CD (2000) Neurogenic tumors of the neck. Radiol Clin North Am 38:1077-1090
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Duprez, T., Coche, E. (2008). Masticator Space Neoplasms. In: Hermans, R. (eds) Head and Neck Cancer Imaging. Medical Radiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-33066-6_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-33066-6_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-68439-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-33066-0
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)