Esthetic neck dissection using an endoscope via retroauricular incision: a report of two cases
A 56-year-old male was referred from a local clinic for evaluation of a tongue mass. It appeared 3 months prior and gradually increased in size. It was erosive and ulcerative with induration and bleeding tendency. He had no specific medical history. The patient had smoked 10 cigarettes a day for 15 years. An incisional biopsy was performed and confirmed a diagnosis of invasive squamous cell carcinoma. MRI and PET demonstrated no regional or distant metastasis (cT2N0M0, stage II). Consequently, wide excision with endoscopic ND, reconstruction of the surgical defect with a radial forearm free flap, and repair of the resulting forearm defect with Megaderm were performed.\nIt took almost 3.5 hours to complete endoscope-assisted SND (I-III), with 200 cc of blood loss during the operation. The final diagnosis confirmed the clinical staging (pT2N0M0, stage II). Unlike in case 1, no postoperative facial nerve weakness was observed. The patient was discharged 16 days after surgery without any complications.