title: The surgical anatomy of the supraclavicular lymph node flap: A basis for the free vascularized lymph node transfer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascularized lymph node transfer is an effective surgical method in reducing lymphedema. This study provides the first detailed description of the surgical anatomy of the supraclavicular lymph node flap in regard to pedicle length, pedicle diameter, and the number of lymph nodes and their exact location inside the flap.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bilateral supraclavicular dissections of nine fresh cadavers (five female) were performed. Before the dissection, the exact number of lymph nodes was determined sonographically by an experienced radiologist, and their distance from the jugular notch was measured. After anatomic dissection, the vascular pedicle's diameter and length were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of lymph nodes was 1.5 ± 1.85 on the right side and 3 ± 2.26 on the left. Their mean distance from the jugular notch was 8.29 ± 2.15 cm on the right and 6.10 ± 1.21 cm on the left. The pedicle's length was 4.72 ± 1.03 cm on the right and 4.86 ± 0.99 cm on the left, and its diameter 2.03 ± 0.83 on the right and 1.80 ± 0.77 on the left.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pedicle length and diameter of the supraclavicular lymph node flap are suitable for a microvascular tissue transfer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2017;115:60-62. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.|Department of Systematic Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinbacher
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.|Department of Systematic Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ines E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Tinhofer
authors.affiliation: Department of Systematic Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.|Department of Radiology, Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Systematic Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Lukas F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Reissig
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Placheta
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roka-Palkovits
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.affiliation: Division of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Center for Tissue Engineering, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Huei
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Systematic Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Wolfgang J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Weninger
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Chieh Han
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tzou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D002968:Clavicle; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: lymphedema; supraclavicular flap; vascularized lymph node transfer