Resumen de New proposed classification ofretromandibular vein root variants based on cadaver dissections andreview of literature: Clinical implications

Sanjoy Sanyal, Sommy M. Joeaneke

• Typically the retro-mandibular vein contributes to formation of common facial and external jugular veins, via its anterior and posterior divisions re-spectively. However, cervico-facial venous variants are rather common. In two successive cadaver dissections the left side of head and neck were unviewable, but the right cervico-facial veins were visible. In both cadavers the right retro-mandibular vein was undivided. The first specimen had right external jugular vein draining into the right subcla-vian vein but did not have a right common facial vein. The second specimen did not have a right external jugular vein, but had a right common faci-al vein draining into the right internal jugular vein.The first variant was characterized as Posterior Dominant Retromandibular Vein with no Common Facial Vein. The second variant was characterized as Anterior Dominant Retromandibular Vein with no External Jugular Vein. Each was sub-classified as Typical or Atypical based on its final drainage pattern. Cervico-facial venous variants often vary from case to case and side to side. Since external jugular and common facial veins are used for clini-cal and surgical interventions, accurate and struc-tured preoperative classification of variations may preclude intra-operative surprises and consequentcomplications.