A Rare Case of a Fenestrated Retromandibular Vein Lying Lateral to the Facial Nerve Bifurcation

Abstract

Facial nerve integrity is the cornerstone of parotid surgery. Although a variety of anatomical landmarks have been employed, facial nerve injury still happens causing devastating functional and cosmetic sequelae. The retromandibular vein is considered one of the most consistent structures lying just deep into the facial nerve. In our cadaveric study, we found a fenestrated retromandibular vein lying superficial to the bifurcation of the facial nerve. This rare anatomical variation would have been a challenge for a hypothetic parotidectomy. Surgeons should be aware of both anterograde and retrograde dissection of the facial nerve and choose the most proper approach to preserve the integrity of the facial nerve.

Keywords: anatomy; cadaver; facial nerve; head and neck; retromandibular vein.