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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
06:05
Modified Radical Neck Dissection for Cervical Metastasis
Published on: February 20, 2026
[Internal jugular vein thrombosis following functional and selective neck dissections]
Necmi Arslan1, Engin Dursun, Berna Oğuz
1Department of Otolaryngology, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. arslan_necmi@yahoo.com
Summary
Functional neck dissections using sharp dissection or cautery show similar rates of internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombosis. Postoperative IJV thrombosis resolved completely in all patients.
Area of Science:
- Head and Neck Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
- Oncology
Background:
- Internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombosis is a rare but serious complication of functional and selective neck dissections.
- It can increase patient morbidity and, in rare cases, be fatal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency of IJV thrombosis following functional neck dissections.
- To determine if dissection technique (sharp dissection vs. cautery) influences IJV thrombosis rates.
Main Methods:
- A study of 52 functional and selective neck dissections in 34 male patients with head and neck cancer.
- Dissections were performed using either sharp dissection (n=27) or cautery (n=25).
- Doppler ultrasonography assessed IJV flow and thrombosis preoperatively and postoperatively (2 weeks, 3-6 months).
Main Results:
- Early postoperative IJV thrombosis occurred in 7.4% of sharp dissection cases and 4% of cautery cases.
- No statistically significant difference in IJV thrombosis rates was found between the two techniques.
- All thrombosed IJVs showed complete recanalization by late postoperative follow-up.
Conclusions:
- The choice between sharp dissection and cautery in functional neck dissections does not appear to impact the incidence of postoperative IJV thrombosis.
- Postoperative internal jugular vein thrombosis following these procedures is generally transient.
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