Vascular control for safe resection of huge vascular masses in head and neck

Background and Objectives: Surgical resection of head and neck masses is challenging when the masses are of vascular nature. The objectives of this paper are to emphasize the importance of a team approach for safe resection of such lesions with a key role of the vascular surgeon in obtaining the vascular control. Methods: three patients with huge vascular masses in head and neck were safely resected after a proximal vascular control. Results: the masses were of different pathological natures (benign soft tissue tumour, soft tissue sarcoma and complex congenital arterio-venous malformation). Conclusion: A team of vascular, general, orthopedic and plastic surgeon is preferred to deal with vascular masses in head and neck because resection of such lesions should not be limited to standard procedures, but tailored to the biology and location of the individual mass. Publication Date: 2008 Publication Name: Zanco J Med SciRead less