Patients with swelling in the neck known as a submental lymphoedema following treatment for head and neck cancer can be successfully treated using minimally invasive liposuction according to this month’s issue of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. The authors noted that submental lymphoedemas, leading to swelling and fluid around the neck, are common problems following the treatment of head and neck cancer.
This novel treatment involves a small incision being made in the neck and liposuction used to remove the fat and fluid that has built up in the area. Although the study was small, with only ten patients, the liposuction surgery was well-tolerated by all the patients, no patient had a recurrence and no complications occurred.
If you have had a neck lump for more than four weeks and are unsure whether this could be treated with liposuction or whether this could be a sign of something more serious, Mr Francis Vaz of University College Hospital London explains what is involved in diagnosing neck lumps and advises on the different types of lumps depending on their position in the neck.
