It is important to know the arterial anatomy within the lateral cervical region before the flap-planning. We evaluated the arterial anatomy in this area using multidetector computed tomography (CT) angiography and our aim was to establish the arterial variations. Both sides of individuals in a total number of 155 carotid CT angiographies are reviewed by using 64-detector CT, retrospectively. The variations of suprascapular artery, superficial cervical artery, dorsal scapular artery that are inclusive of the lateral cervical region were assessed. Three arteries originated individually in 67 (23.8 %) sides. They arose by trunk formation in 214 (76.2 %) sides. The most common type of trunk formation was cervicodorsal trunk (107; 38 %). The others were cervicoscapular trunk, cervicodorsoscapular trunk, dorsoscapular trunk and detected in 66 (23.4 %), 40 (14.3 %), 1 (0.3 %) sides, respectively. The origins of arteries within the lateral cervical region may show variations and they may originate from subclavian artery or its branches individually or by trunk formations. It may be beneficial to know these variations before the reconstructive surgical procedures in head and neck. CT angiography is a non-invasive method that enables to evaluate the arterial anatomy and variations in this area.
KEY WORDS: Angiography; Artery; CT; Free tissue flaps; Lateral cervical region; Variations.
