title: Resection of recurrent branchial cleft deformity using selective neck dissection technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explores application of selective neck dissection technique in recurrent second, third, and fourth branchial cleft deformities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 19 cases of recurrent second, third, and fourth branchial cleft deformities were treated using the selective neck dissection technique, during which the sternocleidomastoid muscle, cervical anterior muscle, and carotid sheath were contoured. The lesion above the prevertebral fascia was then resected en bloc. Finally, the opening of the internal fistula was ligated and sutured using the purse-string approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in this study had no injures to their internal carotid artery, jugular vein, vagus nerve, accessory nerve, hypoglossal nerve, or recurrent laryngeal nerve. There were also no complications such as poor wound healing. The patients were monitored for 7-73 months and showed no recurrences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using selective neck dissection to treat second, third, and fourth branchial cleft deformities resulted in en bloc lesion resections and reduced the chance of recurrence. Contouring the sternocleidomastoid muscle, strap muscle, and carotid sheath is key to the surgical procedure, as it leads to en bloc lesion resection while retaining the recurrent laryngeal nerve and carotid sheath.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck, Affiliated Second Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China. Electronic address: caiq163@126.com.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck, Affiliated Second Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck, Affiliated Second Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China.
authors.forename: Yaodong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck, Affiliated Second Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China.
authors.forename: Faya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck, Affiliated Second Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck, Affiliated Second Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck, Affiliated Second Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D001934:Branchial Region / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D013536:Suture Techniques
keywords: Branchial cleft deformity; Recurrent; Selective neck dissection; Surgery