Reliability of the Digastric Muscle in Neck Surgery
Author Information
Author(s): Muacevic Alexander, Adler John R, May Harry, Schwartz Cynthia, Dundar Yusuf
Primary Institution: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
Hypothesis
How reliable is the posterior belly of the digastric muscle in preventing carotid injury during neck dissection?
Conclusion
The study highlights a rare anatomical variation where the external carotid artery is positioned laterally to the posterior belly of the digastric muscle, which could complicate neck dissection.
Supporting Evidence
- The posterior belly of the digastric muscle is a crucial landmark in head and neck surgery.
- Anatomical variations can lead to complications during surgery.
- The external carotid artery was found laterally to the digastric muscle in this case.
Takeaway
Surgeons need to be careful because the digastric muscle, which usually helps them find important blood vessels, can sometimes be misleading.
Methodology
Case report of a 53-year-old female undergoing neck dissection for squamous cell cancer.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the case report nature and lack of larger sample size.
Limitations
The findings are based on a single case report, limiting generalizability.
Participant Demographics
One 53-year-old female patient with squamous cell cancer.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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