Midcheek endoscopic anatomy

Abstract

Background: Surgical approaches to the midcheek area are challenging. Recent clinical reports have proposed minimally endoscopic approach again, in order to obtain to obtain a correct balance between the operation's safety and the cosmetic and minimally invasive outcome, but none of them provides a careful anatomic description of the midcheek area. The purpose of this study was to provide a new anatomic perception of the midcheek area through a detailed anatomic endoscopic-assisted dissection.

Methods: Four freshly injected cadaver heads were dissected to illustrate the endoscopic anatomy of the midcheek region.

Results: An endoscope provided an excellent surgical window that achieved greater exposure for dissection and at the same time improved magnification of the noble key anatomic elements.

Conclusion: This study emphasizes the critical role of the transverse facial artery and the facial retaining ligaments as a fundamental endoscopic landmark that allows the identification of key anatomic structures and the creation of safe surgical corridors. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E268-E273, 2016.

Keywords: accessory parotid gland; endoscopic approach; midcheek anatomy; midcheek mass; retaining ligaments.