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PubMed2002

Complications of neck dissection for thyroid cancer.

Prophylactic and therapeutic neck dissections are used to control or eliminate local nodal disease in patients with thyroid cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results and complications of neck dissection. From 1992 to 1999 a series of 115 consecutive neck dissections were performed in 74 patients (32 men, 42 women; mean age 48 years) with thyroid cancer and nodal metastases. Operations included central compartment, lateral modified, and suprahyoid dissection with and without total or completion thyroidectomy. Sixty-four percent of the patients had papillary, 4% follicular, and 32% medullary thyroid cancer. Complications included transient hypocalcemia (23%) defined by a postoperative serum calcium level of <2.0 mmol/L (8.0 mg/dl), one neck hematoma (0.9%), and one cardiac death (0.9%). There were no permanent recurrent nerve palsies. Hypocalcemia occurred more frequently when neck dissection was combined with total thyroidectomy than without it (p <0.005). In this group, the incidence of hypocalcemia was higher after central, than lateral, neck dissection. When neck dissection was performed without thyroidectomy, there was no difference in the rates of hypocalcemia between central, lateral, or central with lateral neck dissection (p = NS). Hypocalcemia did not increase with repeated neck dissections (p = NS). Permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred in 0.9%. There were no complications after suprahyoid dissection. The median duration of hospitalization was 1 day. Therapeutic neck dissection or repeated neck dissection can be performed relatively safely in patients with thyroid cancer. Hypocalcemia occurs most frequently when neck dissection is combined with total thyroidectomy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Oncologic effectiveness of selective neck dissection in the N0 irradiated neck.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and patterns of nodal spread in previously irradiated N0 necks are not well defined. Therefore, the safety and efficacy of selective neck dissection (SND) in this patient population is not well established. In a previous report from our institution, SND in irradiated patients with recurrent disease at the primary site but clinically negative necks resulted in excellent tumor control in the neck. The objective of this study is to validate our initial observations in a larger sample of patients with longer follow-up. METHODS: A retrospective chart analysis of patients previously treated with primary radiation therapy or chemoradiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck between January 1997 and June 2003 was performed. Patients with recurrent or persistent disease at the primary site or a second primary head and neck SCC, with no clinical or radiologic disease in the neck, who underwent surgical salvage with resection of the primary site along with a site-specific SND were analyzed. Patients who remained disease free at the primary site were analyzed for regional control after SND. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients underwent a total of 96 site-specific SNDs. The mean age was 64.1 years (range, 39-91 years). There was histologically positive nodal disease in 17 of 69 patients (25%), and 22 of 96 necks (23%). Fifty-three patients had at least a 12-month follow-up. The mean follow-up was 23.3 months (range, 1-96 months). Of the patients with 1-year of follow-up, six patients died from recurrence at the primary site, and nine died from distant metastasis. There were no cases of neck recurrence with the primary site controlled. All patients who had more than two positive nodes had recurrence either at the primary site or distant metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that the patterns of lymphatic spread are not affected by radiation. We conclude that SND is oncologically safe in the management of the N0 irradiated neck and that the finding of more than two positive nodes predicts a poor outcome.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

[Prophylactic neck dissection for submandibular gland cancer].

The indication and preferred dissection field for prophylactic neck dissection for submandibular gland cancer are controversial and have not been standardized. We reviewed 27 patients who underwent a definitive operation for previously untreated submandibular gland cancer. The 27 patients consisted of 13 patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma, 6 patients with mucoepidermoid carcinoma, 6 patients with adenocarcinoma, and 2 patients with squamous cell carcinoma. The diagnostic accuracies of malignancy and histology with fine needle aspiration cytology were 86% and 56%, respectively. In sixteen out of 21 cases without neck lymph node metastasis, a prophylactic neck dissection was performed and pathological neck lymph node metastases were detected in five cases. On the other hand, in five cases that did not receive a prophylactic neck dissection, latent neck lymph node metastasis was observed in 2 cases. In both cases of neck lymph node metastasis, pathological positive lymph nodes were observed in only level 2 or level 3. The rates of occult neck lymph node metastasis according to the T stage were 0% in T1, 33.3% in T2, 57.1% in T3 and 100% in T4. The rates of occult neck lymph node metastasis according to the histopathology were 46.2% in adenoid cystic carcinoma, 50% in mucoepidermoid carcinoma, 50% in adenocarcinoma, and 50% in squamous cell carcinoma. In conclusion, we believe that supraomyohoid neck dissection is suitable for N0 cases of submandibular gland cancer because of four reasons: 1) rate of occult neck lymph node metastasis in submandibular gland cancer is high, 2) pathological neck lymph node metastasis in N0 cases and latent neck lymph node metastasis were observed in level 2 and level 3, 3) the prognosis of cases with neck lymph node metastasis was poor, and 4) same skin incision can be used not only for the primary resection but also for the neck dissection.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Effectiveness of radiotherapy with radical neck dissection in cancers of the head and neck.

A retrospective analysis of 457 radical neck dissections performed over a 30-year period for cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx was carried out. Two hundred thirteen patients underwent radiotherapy to the primary cancer site and/or to the neck. Of these, 164 underwent perioperative adjuvant radiotherapy and 24 underwent definitive radiation for cure and were followed up by salvage surgery. Thus, 188 patients received radiotherapy for nonrecurrent disease. Twenty-five additional patients underwent radiation for surgical failure following radical neck dissection. The goal of the study was to determine whether radiotherapy altered the course or end result of the disease. The T and N stage at onset of disease was similar for the radiotherapy and nonradiotherapy groups. Preoperative radiotherapy was effective in down staging the disease at the primary site and, to a lesser extent, in the lymph nodes, but had limited impact on survival. Failure to control the disease in the neck occurred in 60 (32%) of the 188 patients who received radiotherapy for primary disease; recurrence rates were lower in the combined therapy group than in the surgical group of patients with N2 and N3 stages of disease. The 3-year disease-free survival was 45%; this was no better than the 63% survival rate in patients who did not receive radiotherapy, although survival was better in the combined therapy group for patients with N3 stage of disease. The worst results were in those patients who were irradiated for surgical failure (14% survival); the 24 patients who required salvage radical neck dissection following failure of definitive radiotherapy for cure had a 42% survival.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Cervical sensory preservation during neck dissection.

Although the practice of neck dissection has greatly advanced from radical to function-preserving surgery, the impact of the sensory nerve-preserving neck surgery on the pain and quality of life (QOL) of patients has received little study. We evaluated neck morbidity and its impact on QOL associated with selective or modified radical neck dissection with or without preservation of cervical root branches. We conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing 24 patients who had their cervical root branches preserved to 29 patients whose root branches were removed during neck dissection. The spinal accessory nerve was preserved and sex, age, pathologic status, side and extent of neck dissection, and radiotherapy were comparable between groups. The groups were compared based on sensory and motor functions of the neck and shoulder and questionnaires on depression and QOL at follow-up of mean 18.7 (range 12-34) months after surgery. The nerve-preserved patients showed a low incidence and severity of neck and shoulder pain compared to the nerve-removed subjects (p<.05). Loss of sensation was more frequently experienced in the nerve-removed group on the earlobe and the lateral neck of the operated side (p<.05). Depression and QOL scores were higher in the nerve-removed group and significantly correlated with pain intensity. Preservation of the cervical root branches reduces postoperative pain as well as permanent anesthetic areas of the neck. This may also improve the mental state and QOL of patients undergoing neck dissection.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Radioguided neck dissection in recurrent metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Although radioguided surgery has been used for the excision of sentinel nodes in breast cancer and melanoma, sparse literature exists describing its use in thyroid cancer. We report a 69-year-old patient with a previous total thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection for papillary carcinoma who was subsequently found to have recurrent metastatic disease. After a therapeutic dose of radioactive iodine, a hand-held gamma-probe was used to selectively dissect the neck. The patient was offered radioguided revision neck dissection to remove the disease using residual radioactivity of the original therapeutic iodine 131 dose. Our case report seeks to demonstrate a recent example of our use of the gamma-probe in radioguided surgical excision of recurrent metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗

PubMed2002

Recurrence rates after selective neck dissection in the N0 irradiated neck.

OBJECTIVES: To define patterns of subclinical metastases in irradiated N0 necks with recurrent or persistent primary site disease and to determine the regional control rate when selective neck dissection (SND) is used in this setting. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: Individuals included were previously treated for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with primary radiation therapy or chemoradiotherapy. All had recurrent or persistent disease at the primary site, with no clinical or radiographic evidence of nodal disease. The patients underwent surgical treatment of the primary site along with site-specific SND and were required to undergo at least 1 year of follow-up. Subsequent recurrence at the primary site disqualified the patient from further evaluation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Regional tumor control. RESULTS: Forty-three patients meeting the inclusion criteria underwent 59 SNDs (levels dissected: I-IV [n = 22], II-IV [n = 34], and I-III [n = 3]). Sixteen specimens were positive for nodal disease. The charts of 26 patients, who underwent a total of 35 SNDs, were available for review after 1 year (none of the patients involved died of disease in the neck). There were no neck recurrences (mean follow-up, 25 months; median, 21 months). All patients with more than 2 occult nodal metastases experienced primary site recurrence or distant metastases. CONCLUSIONS: In this small cohort, SND in previously irradiated patients with recurrent primary disease but clinically negative necks has resulted in excellent tumor control in the neck. The usual patterns of nodal spread do not appear to be significantly altered with primary site recurrence after radiation therapy. The presence of more than 2 positive nodes in the neck specimen correlates with poor prognosis.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

PubMed1999

[Selective neck dissection in the treatment of supraglottic carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness of selective neck dissection (upper neck dissection, UND) in the treatment of N0 neck of supraglottic carcinoma. METHOD: The upper neck dissection was designed according to the lymphatic drainage of the supraglottic larynx for the management of N0 neck. The records of the supraglottic carcinoma of T1-4 N0-1 M0 cases (168 patients), who were treated in 1976-1990 at this hospital, were analysed retrospectively. RESULT: In this seires of 168 patients with no neck metastases pathologically a follow-up of five years after an upper neck dissection revealed a neck recurrence rate of 10.1% (17/168), which is comparable with those reported in the literature after selective neck dissection. Five year survival rate was 72.6% (122/168). CONCLUSION: Long-termed observation after UND for supraglottic carcinoma (T1-4 N0-1) resulted in satisfactory survival rates and regional control. It seems justifiable to do a selective neck dissection for N0 and selected N1 patients in order that more patients were exempted from enduring the morbidity following a comprehensive neck dissection.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Anterior neck dissection for carcinoma of the thyroid gland.

Anterior neck dissection, a regional neck dissection in which the internal jugular chain of nodes is dissected completely but the posterior triangle is left undisturbed, has been developed by us. Metastases of carcinoma of the thyroid to cervical lymph nodes were studied clinically and pathologically in 54 patients who had undergone therapeutic total neck dissections in order to determine selection guidelines for anterior neck dissections. If the 7 patients in whom nodes in the posterior triangle of the neck were palpable preoperatively were eliminated, there were 47 evaluable patients for this portion of the study. Nine (19%) of the 47 patients had nonpalpable but histologically positive nodes in the posterior triangle. If these patients were divided into 4 groups, I, II, III, and IV in which the number of palpable nodes in each was 1, 2, 3, and 4 or more, respectively, the incidence of microscopically positive nodes in each group was 1/20 (5%), 2/11 (18%), 2/8 (25%), and 4/8 (50%), respectively. Twenty-one evaluable anterior neck dissections were performed and followed from 4 to 9 years postoperatively. In 18 patients, there was a single palpable node and in 3 patients, there were 2 palpable nodes. No nodal recurrence has occurred in the necks with a single palpable node, but there has been one recurrence in the group with 2 palpable nodes. We conclude that anterior neck dissection is beneficial to patients with a single palpable node in carcinoma of the thyroid in reducing cosmetic disfigurement and preserving function.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Non-neoplastic process after neck dissection demonstrated on enhanced CT in patients with head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Head and neck radiologists should be familiar with typical post-therapeutic changes on enhanced CT after neck dissection because CT is widely used for the follow-up study in order to detect recurrent tumours at an early stage. The purpose of this study was to reveal post-therapeutic anatomical alterations and non-neoplastic processes demonstrated on enhanced CT. METHODS: Radical neck dissections were performed in 39 necks and modified radical neck dissections were performed in 8 necks. Post-operative radiotherapy was performed on 21 patients. Follow-up CT, studies were made within a period of 24 months. RESULTS: On enhanced CT, the densities of soft tissues replacing the resected structures were homogeneous in 44 necks and showed no contrast enhancement in 39 necks. During the 24 months after treatment, most of the soft tissues did not increase in size and the attenuation of the soft tissue remained unchanged. In 44 of 47 necks, lymphoedema (LE) was observed around the carotid artery at an early stage, and it converged into the space between internal carotid artery and external carotid artery gradually. In patients without post-operative radiotherapy, LE was observed around the carotid artery in 17 of 23 necks at 3 months after neck dissection and disappeared rapidly thereafter. In patients with post-operative radiotherapy, LE increased until 3 months after radiotherapy and decreased slowly thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of enhanced CT evaluation of LE around the carotid artery after neck dissection probably exacerbated by irradiation. Clinicians should be aware of LE around the carotid artery in patients with post-operative radiotherapy because of the possible risk of neck cellulitis at least 1 year after treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Evolution of neck dissection for improved functional outcome.

Neck dissection plays a crucial role in the management of metastatic neck disease. Until recently, radical neck dissection has been the standard treatment for malignant cervical adenopathy irrespective of the nodal staging. However, in recent years, there has been a trend toward the development of more conservative operations, wherein certain nonlymphatic structures and lymph node groups can be selectively preserved. Radical neck dissection still remains the surgical standard against which various modifications must be compared. The need to perform more conservative surgery comes from the realization that the radical operation is attended by significant postoperative morbidity, and that some of the structures removed in the course of this operation can actually be preserved without any compromise in oncologic safety. The purpose of this article is to discuss the evolution of conservation surgery in the management of metastatic neck disease, define the clinical applications of various types of neck dissection, and evaluate the implications of these conservation approaches on preservation of function.

Female↗

PubMed1993

Supraomohyoid neck dissection in the treatment of head and neck tumors. Survival results in 212 cases.

Elective supraomohyoid neck dissection is considered part of standard treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancer in most institutions, but its role in the treatment of clinically positive neck cancer remains a subject of controversy. The main object of this study is to report the results of 212 consecutive patients who underwent supraomohyoid neck dissections from 1954 to 1990. Most patients had squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Eighty-six patients (40.6%) had histologically positive lymph nodes in the surgical specimen (sensitivity, 0.55; specificity, 0.53). At the study closing date there were 58.8% actuarial 10-year overall survival rates. Forty-five patients (21.2%) had 50 tumor recurrences (32 local, 13 regional, five distant), and in 40 patients (18.8%) a second primary tumor was diagnosed. A multivariate regression technique based on Cox's proportional hazards model was used, and age (65 years or younger vs older than 65 years) represented the variable with the highest predictive strength with respect to overall survival (relative risk, 2.3). Tumor site, sex, and histologically proved metastasis were also associated with overall survival rates. The same variables were also related to the risk of recurrence. In conclusion, the death rate is mainly related to the control of the primary site tumor and the occurrence of a second primary tumor rather than to neck recurrences. It confirms that supraomohyoid neck dissection is an adequate elective procedure and possibly sufficient in the treatment of a selected group of patients with lip cancer with positive nodes at level 1.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

QT interval changes following neck dissection. A stratified prospective study.

Studies from Europe have suggested that neck dissection, especially right radical neck dissection, causes a dangerous prolongation of the QT interval. Sudden cardiac arrest due to QT prolongation has been reported following right radical neck dissection. We investigated the prevalence of QT interval prolongation following neck dissection. Electrocardiogram tracings from 45 patients who underwent different combinations of neck dissection were studied. Preoperative and postoperative tracings were interpreted by a cardiologist blinded to the patient identification of each tracing. There were 28 unilateral neck dissection patients and 17 bilateral neck dissection patients eligible for analysis. There were 7 patients in the classic right radical neck dissection group, and only 3 of these had no neck dissection on the left. Comparisons of preoperative versus postoperative corrected QT interval for all subjects did not indicate a significant change. Stratification by neck dissection type (radical, modified or selective, and carotid artery resection) or by side dissected (left, right, or both) also showed no significant differences. No malignant arrhythmias were encountered. Thus, in contrast to the European experience, our findings show no significant predictable change in the QT interval after any of the combinations of neck dissection. Head and neck surgeons should be aware of the possibility of postoperative QT interval prolongation following neck dissection, although in the absence of other risk factors it appears to be a rare occurrence.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Posterolateral neck dissection.

The posterolateral neck dissection is a regional lymphadenectomy of the retroauricular and suboccipital lymph nodes in continuity with the contents of the upper part of the posterior triangle and jugular chain. The procedure serves for the removal of occult or clinically manifest lymph node metastases of malignant epithelial tumors of the skin of the head and neck posterior to a coronal plane through the ear canals. The operation can be carried out unilaterally and bilaterally, while the spinal accessory nerve, the splenius capitis, and sternomastoid muscles are being preserved. Twelve patients, the majority with invasive melanoma, were treated with this procedure. A regional recurrence occurred in only one patient with extensive extranodal disease in the neck. The described procedure is adequate in gaining locoregional tumor control. Three patients died of generalized metastatic disease. The functional and cosmetic results are good.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Standardizing neck dissection terminology. Official report of the Academy's Committee for Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology.

The emergence of the multitude of modified techniques for neck dissection procedure has resulted in a nomenclature system that is nonuniform. To eliminate potential misinterpretation, overlap, and lack of standardization, the Academy's Committee for Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology, with input from the Education Committee of the American Society of Head and Neck Surgery, has developed a classification system for these procedures. This has now been adopted by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. The classification is based on the following concepts: (1) radical neck dissection is the fundamental procedure with which all other neck dissections are compared, (2) modified radical neck dissection denotes preservation of one or more nonlymphatic structure(s), (3) selective neck dissection denotes preservation of one or more group(s) of lymph nodes, and (4) extended radical neck dissection denotes removal of one or more additional lymphatic and/or nonlymphatic structure(s). Adherence to the principles of this classification system to describe neck dissection techniques should provide an improved method of communication. Furthermore, the system provides a rational framework on which subsequent terminology can be added.

Head and Neck Neoplasms↗

PubMed2002

Neck dissections: predicting postoperative drainage.

OBJECTIVES: Most head and neck dissections performed in conjunction with carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract require drain insertion. The time that the drains remain in place largely determines the duration of postoperative hospitalization. This study sought to retrospectively compare different neck dissections in terms of postoperative drainage and duration of hospitalization. We also sought to identify any correlation between total intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radical, modified radical, and selective neck dissections performed in conjunction with resection of a carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract over a 3-year period were evaluated. Total intraoperative blood loss at surgery, and amount and duration of postoperative drainage for each neck dissection were recorded. RESULTS: Seventy-nine neck dissections were performed on 52 patients, 27 (52%) of whom had bilateral neck dissections. Median drainage was 116.5 mL, 172 mL, and 319 mL for selective, modified radical, and radical neck dissections, respectively. Drainage differed significantly by type of neck dissection (P <.001). Drains remained in place a median of 4 days with no significant difference between different types of neck dissections. Drainage was clearly correlated with total intraoperative blood loss (Spearman correlation = 0.44, P <.001). CONCLUSION: The postoperative drainage per day was higher in radical neck dissections than modified radical neck dissections and lowest in selective neck dissections. This difference was not reflected in the duration that the drains would remain in place. Total intraoperative blood loss is a strong predictor of the amount and duration of postoperative drainage.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Pain in the neck after neck dissection.

BACKGROUND: Reports of disability after neck dissection have been directed toward shoulder dysfunction and pain. We could find no report addressing the issue of pain localized to the actual operative site. We have conducted a combined prospective and retrospective study of pain in patients undergoing neck dissection. METHODS: Eighty-eight disease-free patients were evaluated in 3 groups for neck pain. One group was followed up prospectively for 1 to 8 months after surgery, and 2 retrospective groups were followed up for more than 2 years or for 6 months to 2 years. Pain was assessed by a body map and visual analog scale. RESULTS: None of 31 patients followed up for more than 2 years reported neck pain. Four of 27 patients followed up for 6 to 24 months had pain, with a mean visual analog scale score of 3.7. Seventy percent of the prospective group of 30 patients had pain during the first postoperative week, and only 1 patient had pain persisting for more than 2 months. Shoulder pain and disability after radical neck dissection were encountered in all groups, comparable with the incidence reported in the literature. No postoperative neuromas were found. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic pain localized to the operative site is an uncommon occurrence even after radical neck dissection. Chronic pain in the shoulder region may follow radical neck dissection, whereas modified neck dissection is usually a painless procedure.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Jugular neck dissection for supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma with negative clinical findings in the neck (N0)].

INTRODUCTION: Appropriate management of patients with supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma and negative findings in the neck is still controversial. A prospective and retrospective study comprised 193 patients who were treated primary surgically between 1976 and 1993. They all had clinically and ultrasound negative findings on the neck (N0). Supraglottic carcinomas usually spread regionally. Metastases develop in the jugular group, between level II-IV. The incidence of metastases has been reported to vary from 12 to 62.5%. The size and localization of the primary tumor, its histological grade, genotype of the malignant cells, immunological and other elucidated factors can all affect the incidence of regional spread. AIM: Aim of this study was to specify the incidence of occult cervical metastases; to analyze the distribution of occult metastases related to tumor localization; to specify the distribution of occult metastases related to local spread; to analyze the distribution of occult metastases according to localization in the neck. RESULTS: All patients had primary surgery of primary tumor and bilateral jugular, selective neck dissection at the level II-IV with histological examination of removed lymphoid tissue. Out of 193 patients, metastatic deposits were detected in 35 (18%). Occult metastases were found in patients with carcinoma of the epilarynx in 19% (14/72) of cases, and in 17% (21/121) patients with carcinoma of the supraglottis excluding the epilarynx. This difference in frequency is not statistically significant. The incidence of occult metastases in epilaryngeal tumors did not depend on the degree of local spread. Even relatively small tumors (T1 and T2) yielded occult metastases in 33% (5/15), and 24% (6/25) of patients, respectively. In patients with T1 tumors localized at the supraglottis, excluding the epilarynx, occult metastases were not found. In the supraglottis excluding the epilarynx increased local spread was associated an increase of occult metastases. The incidence of occult metastases was directly related to the degree of the local spread of the tumor in the supraglottis excluding the epilarynx (Table 1). Occult metastases were usually ipsilateral, like the palpable ones. In medially localized tumors bilateral metastases were possible. Ipsilateral metastases were more frequent than both bilateral and contralateral ones. The possibility of contralateral and bilateral occult metastases necessitated bilateral neck dissection. Postoperative radiotherapy (60 Gy) was given to all patients with verified occult metastases. Only in two patients (1%) of the total did metastases develop subsequently, indicating the effectiveness of planned postoperative radiotherapy. DISCUSSION: Controversies in application of jugular, selective neck dissection are present since it has been in use, because of the unclear role which regional lymph tissue play in antitumor immune response. Jugular, selective neck dissection was advocated in all patients with a primary supraglottic laryngeal carcinomas. It was suggested that selective neck dissection was needed only in advanced (T3 and T4) tumors. Selective dissection is believed to be needed only when tumor has spread into the vallecula, the base of the tongue, or the medial wall of the piriform sinus. The idea of selective neck dissection has been opposed since the protective role of the cervical lymph tissue has been stressed. Ultrasound and computerized tomography of the neck cannot detect occult metastases. Today, only removal and histological examination of the lymph tissue can determine occult metastasis. The importance of selective neck dissection is considered in diagnostic biopsy procedure by which occult metastatic spread in the neck region is established. CONCLUSION: Due to the tendency of supraglottic carcinoma resulting in occult cervical metastases, early detection is imperative in order to apply the appropriate therapy. Occult cervical metastases are usually ipsilateral, but bilateral and contralateral may be found as well. Due to the aforementioned, it is necessary to perform bilateral jugular, selective cervical dissection of the neck level II-IV with histological evidence of removed lymph tissue. When metastases is verified histologically, postoperative radiotherapy is indicated as being efficient in hampering the development of palpable metastases. Five-year survival with no evidence disease is 86% (166/193).

Adult↗