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Neck recurrence after level I–IV or I–III selective neck dissection in the management of the clinically N0 neck in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Bajwa Mandeep S.,
McMillan Roddy,
Khattak Owais,
Thomas Mathew,
Krishnan Ojas P.,
Webster Keith
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.21466
Subject(s) - medicine , neck dissection , radiation therapy , basal cell , surgery , dissection (medical) , carcinoma , radiology
Background Controversy remains regarding extending the level I–III selective neck dissection (SND) to include level IV in the management of the clinically N0 (cN0) neck in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods Histologic and follow‐up data of 87 patients with previously untreated OSCC undergoing I–IV SND and 41 undergoing I–III SND between 2002 and 2006 were reviewed. Results Of the 98 I–IV SNDs performed, 4 had involvement of level IV. No relationship between tumor variables and level IV involvement was identified. Survival analysis failed to demonstrate a significant difference between I–III and I–IV SND in terms of developing neck recurrence in the 2 years following surgery. Conclusions Level I–III SND is effective management of the cN0 neck (when coupled with postoperative radiotherapy in selected cases) in patients with OSCC, although it is recommended that a larger prospective study be performed in this field. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010