title: Functional neck dissection for treatment of recurrent branchial remnants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of functional neck dissection for treatment of cervical branchial remnants that are recurrent after previous surgical intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was undertaken of six patients undergoing functional neck dissection for excision of recurrent branchial anomalies treated over an 18-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic tertiary referral medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients with recurrent branchial cysts, sinuses, or fistulas. Each participant previously had undergone between one and 14 ineffective surgical procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each patient was treated by functional neck dissection.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Blackwell
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Calcaterra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001935:Branchioma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies