Affiliation:
1. Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital Cork Ireland
2. ENTO Research Unit, College of Medicine and Health University College Cork Ireland
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundSelective neck dissection (SND) has traditionally been applied to clinically negative (cN0) necks in mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We aimed to examine the oncological safety and patterns of regional recurrence (RR) of SND in clinically positive (cN+) necks.MethodsRetrospective review of prospective cohort of 206 patients with mucosal SCC undergoing neck dissection. RR was classified as occurring within previously dissected levels, within ipsilateral undissected levels, within unusual locations of ipsilateral neck, or contralateral neck.ResultsSeven of seventy‐seven (9.1%) cN+ patients undergoing SND developed isolated RR, versus 16.2% after MRND, and 8.7% after SND for cN0 disease. RR was rarely seen within undissected levels of the ipsilateral neck. RR and survival rates were not associated with ND extent (SND vs. MRND) among either cN+ or pN+ patients.ConclusionSND can be safely performed in most patients with cN+ SCC, who do not have gross sternocleidomastoid infiltration or level V metastases.