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Functional neck dissection for treatment of recurrent branchial remnants
K E Blackwell1, T C Calcaterra
1Division of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine.
Objective:
To evaluate the role of functional neck dissection for treatment of cervical branchial remnants that are recurrent after previous surgical intervention.
Design:
A retrospective review was undertaken of six patients undergoing functional neck dissection for excision of recurrent branchial anomalies treated over an 18-year period.
Setting:
Academic tertiary referral medical center.
Participants:
Six patients with recurrent branchial cysts, sinuses, or fistulas. Each participant previously had undergone between one and 14 ineffective surgical procedures.
Intervention:
Each patient was treated by functional neck dissection.
Outcome Measures:
Clinically noted complications and recurrences.
Results:
There were no major complications. Minor complications included one postoperative wound infection and one transient spinal accessory nerve paresis. There were no recurrences.
Conclusions:
Functional neck dissection is a safe and effective procedure for surgical management of recurrent cervical branchial remnants.