Functional Neck Dissection (Latero-Cervical Functional Dissection)

Abstract

Radical neck dissection is being used as a treatment modality in the metastasis of head and neck cancer to latero-cervical lymphatic system from the beginning of 20th century. By the time it has been considered as a destructive approach; excision of nonpathologic tissues like muscles, nerves and veins of the neck leads to anatomic and functional deformities. Some surgeons proposed to maintain nervus spinalis accessorius and vena jugularis interna during bilateral elective neck dissection. Osvaldo Suarez, professor of anatomy and neck surgeon, studied neck muscles, veins, nerves and their fascias, lymphatic pathways-lymph hode locations and their drainages, and described the basic principles of “functional neck dissection”. Bocca, Calearo, Teatini and Pignataro studied on this subject and published articles on the principles of functional neck dissection and strengthened this technique’s worldwide acceptance. In this article, anatomical principles with details of surgical techniques of functional neck dissection, which we had been performing for 35 years at the Ear, Nose and Throat Clinics of Ankara University, will be reviewed.

Keywords

• neck anatomy
• neck dissection.