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Radical neck dissection: Preserving the distal spinal accessory nerve based on its cervical plexus contribution
Author(s) -
Aravind R.,
Kathiresan N.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.21090
Subject(s) - medicine , accessory nerve , cervical plexus , neck dissection , dissection (medical) , surgery , trapezius muscle , anatomy , spinal nerve , brachial plexus , electromyography , carcinoma , dorsum , psychiatry
In an effort to overcome shoulder morbidity from the classical radical neck dissection, modifications preserving the entire spinal accessory nerve, were described. When there are metastatic upper jugular nodes with potential extracapsular spread, modifications that preserve the entire XI nerve may be oncologically unsafe. We describe a technique wherein the XI nerve is preserved based on the contribution from the cervical plexus, while allowing resection of the proximal part of the nerve en bloc with the specimen. This modification may preserve useful trapezius function without compromising oncological safety. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;98:200–201. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.