Over the recent years, an increased alertness for thorough knowledge of anatomical variants with clinical significance has been recorded in order to minimize the risks of surgical complications. We report a rare case of bilateral strap-like sternalis muscle of the anterior chest wall in a female cadaver. Its presence may evoke alterations in the electrocardiogram or confuse a routine mammography. The incidental finding of a sternalis muscle in mammography, CT, and MRI studies must be documented in a patient's medical records as it can be used as a pedicle flap or flap microvascular anastomosis during reconstructive surgery of the anterior chest wall, head and neck, and breast. Moreover, its presence may be misdiagnosed as a wide range of benign and malignant anterior chest wall lesions and tumors.
RAIKOS, A.; PARASKEVAS, G. K.; TRIARIDIS, S.; KORDALI, P.; PSILLAS, G. & BRAND-SABERI, B.Bilateral supernumerary sternocleidomastoid heads with critical narrowing of the minor and major supraclavicular fossae: clinical and surgical implications. Int. J. Morphol., 30(3):927-933, 2012.
SUMMARY:Anatomical variations of the sternocleidomastoid muscle are rare and concern its origin, insertion, and the number of heads. We report on a rare bilateral variant of the sternocleidomastoid muscle with aberrant and supernumerary muscular heads, observed in a cadaveric subject. On the right side of the neck, a typical sternomastoid head of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and three aberrant clavicular heads of variable thickness, origin, and termination were noticed. On the left side, two sternomastoid heads were present; the medial one was of typical pattern, while the lateral was supernumerary. The cleidomastoid portion of the left sternocleidomastoid muscle was fused with the double sternomastoid segment. A strap-like muscle originating from the middle third of the clavicle and inserting onto the transverse process of the C3 vertebra was noticed. This is known as the cleidocervical muscle. On the right side of the neck, the posterior cervical triangle was diminished, the minor supraclavicular fossa was considerably narrow, whereas on the left, it was diminished in addition to a bilateral shortening of the major supraclavicular fossa minimizing space needed for potential surgical access. These findings are of prominent significance for anesthetists in ultrasound guided needle positioning in brachial plexus block, as well as in subclavian or external jugular vein catheterization, and in surgical interventions involving structures lying under the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
The desire for qualitative-guided anatomy education is evident from the highly popular plastinated body and specimen exhibitions. Hence, additional focused effort could be provided to educate the public about normal and pathological anatomy in order to amend their life-style. This could be effected by certified anatomy demonstrators in graduated steps according to the cohort's age, education, occupation, and health status.
The sternalis muscle is an anatomic variation well known to anatomists, but relatively unknown to clinicians and surgeons. It is localized superficially to the pectoralis major and can cause a diagnostic dilemma during breast surgery, mammography, and computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, as its appearance mimics tumor pathology of the region. We studied the presence of longitudinally placed muscles in the anterior thoracic wall in 45 cadavers (90 hemithoraces). In an 83-year-old white male, a rare case of crossed-type sternalis was detected on the left side. The muscle originated from the sternal head of the right sternocleidomastoid, crossed into the opposite parasternal half, and split into 2 tendons and 2 muscle bellies that inserted into the left subcostal arch region. This variant was not included in the available sternalis classifications, and an update is suggested. The muscle is of utmost importance and diagnostic value in routine mammogram screening. Moreover, it is of great value for the plastic surgeon, because identification of the variant can aid the differential diagnosis among other regional lesions. Likewise, its superficial location makes it an ideal candidate for utilization as a muscular flap in plastic reconstruction of the head and neck region.
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