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Title (en)
Evaluation of the External Jugular Vein Overlying the Sternocleidomastoid Muscle as Venous Lymph-Node Flap
Language
English
Description (en)
Until recently, vascularized lymph-node flaps were based on arterial and venous donor vessels. Now, venous lymph-node flaps form a novel promising concept in the treatment of advanced-stage lymphedema. In preliminary studies, the external jugular vein has shown promising results as a venous lymph-node flap. However, nothing is known about the number of lymph nodes adjacent to the external jugular vein.Standardized specimens of the external jugular vein and surrounding fatty tissue directly overlying the sternocleidomastoid muscle were obtained during routine neck dissection. Histologic evaluation was performed in order to evaluate for the presence of lymph nodes within the tissue.A total of 20 specimens were evaluated. There was no vein in 4 of the samples. We found lymph nodes in 9 of the remaining 16 samples. In 7 samples, lymph nodes were absent.Our results suggest that the vein directly overlying the sternocleidomastoid muscle may not be the ideal candidate for a venous lymph-node flap.
Keywords (en)
external jugular vein; lymph edema; lymphatics; reconstruction; venous lymph-node flap
DOI
10.3390/jcm11071812
Author of the digital object
Lorenz Kadletz-Wanke  (Medical University of Vienna)
Gregor Heiduschka  (Medical University of Vienna)
Klaus F. Schrögendorfer  (University Hospital Sankt Poelten)
Lukas Kenner  (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna / Medical University of Vienna / Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research)
Felicitas Oberndorfer  (Medical University of Vienna)
Erik Grabner  (Medical University of Vienna)
Format
application/pdf
Size
821.6 kB
Licence Selected
CC BY 4.0 International
Type of publication
Article
Name of Publication (en)
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Pages or Volume
7
Volume
11
Number
7
Publisher
MDPI
Publication Date
2022