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Tortuous common carotid artery encountered during neck dissection
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Summary
A rare tortuous common carotid artery anomaly was discovered during neck dissection. This abnormal carotid artery course, crossing the trachea, has not been previously documented in medical literature.
Area of Science:
- Vascular anatomy
- Surgical anatomy
- Head and neck surgery
Background:
- Carotid artery anomalies are infrequent in clinical practice.
- Accurate anatomical knowledge is crucial for safe surgical procedures in the neck.
- Neck dissections require detailed understanding of regional vascular structures.
Observation:
- During a neck dissection, a 60-year-old man presented with an unusually tortuous right common carotid artery.
- The anomalous artery followed an aberrant path, crossing anterior to the lower cervical trachea.
- The vessel then resumed its typical anatomical position within the carotid sheath in the mid-neck region.
Findings:
- This case represents the first reported instance of a tortuous common carotid artery with such an abnormal anterior tracheal course.
- The anomaly was identified during routine surgical dissection, highlighting the potential for unexpected anatomical variations.
- Detailed anatomical description of this rare variation is provided.
Implications:
- This finding expands the spectrum of known carotid artery anomalies.
- Surgeons performing neck dissections must be aware of potential aberrant vascular pathways to avoid iatrogenic injury.
- Documentation of rare anatomical variations contributes to improved surgical planning and patient safety.