AIM: To define surgical approaches which provide surgical adequacy, preservation of function and aesthetic results.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analysis included 191 emergency interventions for various neck injuries and more than 35.000 elective operations for thyroid diseases.

RESULTS: The study showed that collar-like incisions have the best aesthetic effect on the neck; an approach along anterior margin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle is advisable for emergency assessment of cervical organs; W.F. MacFee access is optimal for lateral cervical lymphadenectomy in asthenic patients while serpentine incision - in hypersthenic ones.