title: Involvement of the carotid artery in tumours of the head and neck.
abstract: Carotid artery involvement in neck tumours causes great concern to surgeons because of the unpredictable effects of carotid artery clamping or excision. Various methods of pre- and peroperative assessment of crossover cerebral circulation are reviewed. The management of 3 cases with extensive tumour involving the carotid artery is described. This comprises a combined operation involving a head and neck surgeon and vascular surgeon using a temporary carotid shunt followed by permanent autogenous vein graft to the internal carotid artery. It is suggested that thorough preoperative investigation combined with a more radical surgical approach can give a more satisfactory outcome in cases of head and neck tumours involving the carotid artery.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation