Head and Neck Flashcards
Name the structures of the thoracic outlet from anterior to posterior.
- subclavian vein
- phrenic nerve
- anterior scalene
- subclavian artery
- middle scalne
What are the boundaries of the anterior neck triangle?
- anterior is midline of the neck
- posterior is the SCM
- inferior apex is the sternal notch
- superior base is the body of the mandible
- contains the carotid sheath
What are the contents of the anterior neck triangle?
the carotid sheath
What are the boundaries of the posterior neck triangle?
- anterior is the SCM
- posterior is the trapezius
- base is the middle 3rd of the clavicle
- apex is the SCM/trapezius intersection
- contains the spinal accessory nerve
What is contained within the posterior neck triangle?
the spinal accessory nerve
Describe the course of the right and left recurrent larygneal nerves.
- right: vagus passes anterior to the subclavian artery and the recurrent laryngeal nerve loops behind the subclavian and travels superiorly in the tracheoesophageal groove
- left: the vagus passes anterior to the aortic arch between the left common carotid and subclavian artery and the recurrent laryngeal nerve loops behind the arch and travels superiorly in the TE groove
Describe the innervation of the laryngeal muscles.
- superior laryngeal: cricothyroid muscle
- recurrent laryngeal: all other laryngeal muscles
The superior laryngeal nerve innervates what structure?
the cricothyroid muscle, the only laryngeal muscle not innervated by the recurrent laryngeal
What is the most common head and neck cancer?
squamous cell cancer
What are the risk factors for head and neck cancer?
- male gender
- alcohol and tobacco use (synergistic)
- HPV
What is the general staging system for head and neck cancers?
- stage I and II are local disease
- stage III and IV are either locally aggressive or have distant meets
How are head and neck cancers generally treated?
- stage I and II are candidates for surgical resection (unless a critical structure like vocal cords which get radiation)
- stage III and IV are usually treated with excision, MRND, and radiation +/- chemotherapy
What is the treatment for a 4cm oral squamous cell carcinoma?
lesions > 4cm or with nodal/bone involvement need resection with MRND and post-op radiation
Are tumors of large or small salivary glands more likely to be malignant?
small (i.e. sublingual > submandibular > parotid)
What is the most common salivary gland malignancy?
mucoepidermoid cancer