Anatomical variability of omohyoid and its relevance in oropharyngeal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To define the reproducibility of the position of omohyoid muscle.


METHODS
A regional Maxillofacial surgical oncological service.


METHODS
Thirty dissections of cadavers and consecutive series of 88 patients who had had neck dissections, either prophylactic or therapeutic, as part of their oncological management.


METHODS
Measurement of the upper border of omohyoid muscle relative to the clavicle and the internal jugular vein (mm).


RESULTS
The position of omohyoid muscle in relation to the clavicle and internal jugular vein varied considerably and by inference the nodal yield at level IV is also likely to vary.


CONCLUSIONS
The wide variability of the position of omohyoid muscle is likely to have implications for the surgical management of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.
Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Pinderfields General Hospital, Aberford Road, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK. kdmizen@doctors.org.uk
K D
KD
Mizen
D A
DA
Mitchell
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*