Identification of facial nerve displaced vertically in locally invasive mucoepidermoid carcinoma of parotid gland: A rare case discussion

Abstract

One of the most technically challenging surgeries in the head and neck domain is superficial parotidectomy with its definitive step being facial nerve identification. There are certain anatomical landmarks to guide the surgeon in the identification process. However displacement or obliteration of local anatomy can complicate the identification of facial nerve and render the surgery cumbersome. Displacement of the intracranial portion of the facial nerve has been adequately described in literature however there is a stark lacunae in literature regarding displacement of facial nerve in parotid surgeries and associated challenges. We present a case of a displaced facial nerve in a locally invasive mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland invading the sternocleidomastoid muscle and retromandibular vein in which a superficial parotidectomy was undertaken.