Novel variations in spatial relations between the facial nerve and superficial temporal and maxillary veins
Abstract
Variations in the relationship of the retromandibular vein to the facial nerve have been widely reported due to their relevance for surgical approaches in parotid, osteotomy and mandibular condyle surgery. In the context of the retromandibular retroparotid approach, remaining deep to the retromandibular vein is advised to decrease the likelihood of encountering the facial nerve during mandibular condyle surgery. In the present report, an unusual variant of the superficial temporal vein lying superficial to the facial nerve is described. This represents a variation of the venous branching pattern within the parotid gland, whereby the superficial temporal vein joins the maxillary vein inferior to its usual communication. These findings are discussed in the context of commonly used surgical approaches to the mandible for condylar trauma or osteotomy surgery.
Keywords: facial nerve variationretromandibular veinsuperficial temporal veinmandibular condyle surgeryparotidectomy
References
- Ariyoshi Y, Shimahara M. Determining whether a parotid tumor is in the superficial or deep lobe using magnetic resonance imaging. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1998; 56(1): 23–26.
- Babademez MA, Acar B, Gunbey E, et al. Anomalous relationship of the retromandibular vein to the facial nerve as a potential risk factor for facial nerve injury during parotidectomy. J Craniofac Surg. 2010; 21(3): 801–802.
- de Ru JA, Bleys RL, van Benthem PP, et al. Preoperative determination of the location of parotid gland tumors by analysis of the position of the facial nerve. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2001; 59(5): 525–530.
- El-Hakim H, Mountain R, Carter L, et al. Anatomic landmarks for locating parotid lesions in relation to the facial nerve: cross-sectional radiologic study. J Otolaryngol. 2003; 32(05): 314–318.
- Howlett DC. High resolution ultrasound assessment of the parotid gland. Br J Radiol. 2003; 76(904): 271–277.
- Imaizumi A, Kuribayashi A, Okochi K, et al. Differentiation between superficial and deep lobe parotid tumors by magnetic resonance imaging: usefulness of the parotid duct criterion. Acta Radiol. 2009; 50(7): 806–811.
- Kawakami S, Tsukada S, Taniguchi W. The superficial temporal and retromandibular veins as guides to expose the facial nerve branches. Ann Plast Surg. 1994; 32(3): 295–299.
- Kim DI, Nam SH, Nam YS, et al. The marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve in Koreans. Clin Anat. 2009; 22(2): 207–214.
- Kopuz C, Ilgi S, Yavuz S, et al. Morphology of the retromandibular vein in relation to the facial nerve in the parotid gland. Acta Anat (Basel). 1995; 152(1): 66–68.
- Lim CY, Chang HS, Nam KH, et al. Preoperative prediction of the location of parotid gland tumors using anatomical landmarks. World J Surg. 2008; 32(10): 2200–2203.
- Piagkou M, Tzika M, Paraskevas G, et al. Anatomic variability in the relation between the retromandibular vein and the facial nerve: a case report, literature review and classification. Folia Morphol. 2013; 72(4): 371–375.
- Touré G, Vacher C. Relations of the facial nerve with the retromandibular vein: anatomic study of 132 parotid glands. Surg Radiol Anat. 2010; 32(10): 957–961.
