Unilateral aberrant anatomy of the hypoglossal nerve.

Purpose: Neck dissection is often performed in patients with oral cancer to both treat and reduce the risk of subsequent neck metastases. Injury to the hypoglossal nerve may result in dysarthria, dysphagia, and profound difficulty with upper airway control. Although surgical landmarks facilitate intra-operative identification of vital structures to be preserved, they should not be an absolute measure, due to anatomical variants.

Fanconi anaemia and oral squamous cell carcinoma: management considerations.

Fanconi anaemia (FA) is a rare multi-system genetic disorder where patients are susceptible to the development of oral malignancies. Clinicians involved in their management should be vigilant in detecting lesions early, and an individualised treatment plan should then be formulated. Although surgery forms the mainstay of oncological treatment, adjuvant therapy can be instituted with care.