Table 3.

Surgical approaches and landmarks for the upper carotid sheath (CS).

Approaches		Main Landmarks	Other landmarks
Oral approach	Open	Styloid process and associated structures.	Superior pharyngeal constrictor
	Endoscopic or Robotic		Medial pterygoid; superior pharyngeal constrictor
Cervical approach	Prevertebral lateral cervical	Posterior belly of digastric muscle	Hyoid greater horn, hyoglossus, longus capitis, longus colli, superior pharyngeal constrictor, anterior tubercle of atlas
	Cervical - parotid		Facial nerve
	Cervical - mandible		Styloglossus, stylopharyngeus
Cervico-cranial approach	Postero-lateral	Lateral rectus capitis	Digastric crest, posterior rectus major, superior oblique, inferior oblique, occipital condyle, jugular process
	Sub-temporal	Transverse process of atlas	Longissimus capitis, posterior abdomen of digastric muscle, root of styloid process and jugular process
	Retro-auricular	Transverse process of atlas	Digastric crest, facial canal, occipital condyle, jugular nodule, rectus capitis, jugular vein process