Murat BINAR, Hamdi TAŞLI, Ümit AYDIN, Ömer KARAKOÇ, Mert Cemal GÖKGÖZ

Facial nerve abnormality on parotidectomy for Warthin tumor in a case of aural atresia

To our knowledge, the coexistence of Warthin tumor and ipsilateral aural atresia has not been reported before. This situation mayaffect facial nerve structure and present a surgically challenging situation during superficial parotidectomy. A 68-year-old woman withright aural atresia was operated on due to a parotid mass below the atretic ear. Computed tomography and intraoperative findingsdemonstrated unusual properties of the facial nerve: (i) Extratemporal beginning was more superiorly located, (ii) Facial trunk wasrelatively longer and more vertical, (iii) Buccal, marginal mandibular, and cervical branching from the unique ring structure of the facialnerve. All facial nerve branches were preserved after careful dissection and the lesion was completely excised. Final histopathologicdiagnosis was Warthin tumor. In order to preserve the facial nerve during parotid surgery and to avoid morbidity, it is necessary forsurgeons to be familiar with different types of extratemporal facial nerve anatomy especially in cases of additional anomalies suchas aural atresia.

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