Category Reference
Head & Neck Procedures
4 procedures tested on the ABS Certifying Exam
Head and neck cases include parotid masses, thyroglossal duct cyst, branchial cleft anomalies, neck abscess (deep neck space infections including Ludwig's angina), and tracheostomy indications and emergent airway management. Anatomy of nerves and vascular structures is routinely tested.
Neck Exploration (Penetrating Trauma)
Surgical exploration of the neck for penetrating trauma, classically divided by zones. The examiner expects you to know the three zones of the neck, recognize hard signs of vascula…
Sistrunk Procedure (Thyroglossal Duct Cyst)
Excision of a thyroglossal duct cyst along with the central portion of the hyoid bone and the cyst tract extending to the base of the tongue (foramen cecum). The examiner expects y…
Parotidectomy
Surgical removal of the parotid gland, either superficial (lateral to the facial nerve) or total (both superficial and deep lobes). The examiner expects you to work up a parotid ma…
Neck Dissection
Systematic surgical removal of cervical lymph nodes for metastatic cancer, classified by the structures preserved and the nodal levels dissected. The examiner expects you to know t…
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