In consideration of postoperative dysfunction associated with radical neck dissection (RND) , various modifications of RND have recently been reported. We investigated the postoperative patency of the internal jugular vein (IJV) by enhanced computed tomography in 120 patients (136 sides) with oral cancer who underwent IJV-preserving modified radical neck dissections (mRNDs) . The following results were obtained.
1. Of the 136 sides, 102 (75.0 %) showed a normal IJV, while 26 (19.1 %) showed IJV stenosis, and 8(5.9 %) showed IJV obstruction.
2 . No patient had clinical symptoms caused by stenosis or obstruction of the IJV.
3.There were no relations between stenosis or obstruction of the IJV and age, sex, number of metastatic nodes, extranodular invasion, postoperative radiotherapy, or reconstructive surgery.
4 . Stenosis or obstruction of the IJV occurred significantly more frequently in the left side of the neck than in the right side of the neck.
5 . Postoperative compressive procedures of the neck because of leakage of the parotid gland saliva, infection,or chyle were considered one of the causes of the IJV obstruction.
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