颈分区性淋巴结清扫术对头颈鳞癌颈淋巴结阳性患者的治疗意义

颈分区性淋巴结清扫术(selective neck dissection,SND)治疗颈淋巴结阴性头颈鳞癌患者已被认为是有效的治疗方法.SND用于治疗颈淋巴结阳性头颈鳞癌患者仍有争议,本文就该问题对文献资料进行综述,认为①SND不仅是颈淋巴结阴性头颈部鳞癌患者有效的治疗方法,也可有效治疗cNO、但pN+、无淋巴结包膜外侵犯者的患者;②SND对cN1患者治疗也有较好的疗效;③cNO、cN1患者,术后病理检查为pN2或转移淋巴结有包膜外侵犯者应追加术后放疗.     

择区性颈清扫术治疗下咽鳞状细胞癌颈部淋巴结转移的术式探讨

目的:探讨择区性颈清扫术(SND)治疗下咽鳞状细胞癌颈部淋巴结转移的手术范围。方法:回顾性分析接受SND的26例下咽癌患者,其中11例cN0患者,15例cN+患者。本组共有51侧的SND,其中34侧为选择性SND,17侧为治疗性SND。结果:发现隐匿性颈淋巴结转移6例(55%),颈淋巴结转移均限制在Ⅱ区和Ⅲ区内。cN+患者均证实有颈淋巴结转移,其中Ⅱ区转移占66.7%,Ⅲ区转移占86.7%,Ⅳ区转移占46.7%,Ⅴ区转移占20.0%,另外Ⅰ区仅1例发现转移(6.7%)。随访发现区域复发4例,均为cN+患者,且均未见Ⅰ区复发。结论:cN0下咽癌患者SND(Ⅱ～Ⅲ)清扫有一定的临床意义,尚需进一步验证;cN+患者Ⅰ区清扫尚无必要,SND(Ⅱ～Ⅴ)配合术后放疗能取得满意的疗效。     

淋巴转移阳性舌体鳞癌的颈部治疗策略探讨

目的 分析影响淋巴转移阳性(pathologically node positive,pN+)舌体鳞癌患者颈部复发的相关因素和淋巴转移规律,探讨pN+舌体鳞癌的颈部治疗策略.方法 回顾性分析1991年1月至2006年12月期间138例pN+舌体鳞癌患者的临床和随访资料,分析pN+舌体鳞癌颈部转移淋巴结和复发淋巴结的分布规律和pN+舌体鳞癌临床病理因素和治疗方法对颈部复发的影响.结果 全部病例随访2年以上或至患者死亡.Kaplan-Meier法计算3年生存率为46.4%,5年生存率为36.2%.138例共203个分区发生转移,其中同侧Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ区累及频率达94.6%,47例共66个分区出现颈部淋巴结复发,其中同侧Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ区复发频率达77.3%.颈部复发率与pT分期、pN分期、pTNM分期、淋巴结包膜外侵犯有关(P值均＜0.05);当淋巴结有包膜外侵犯时,术后放疗组的颈部复发率低于未放疗组,但差异无统计学意义(P=0.076);不同颈清扫方式间的颈部复发率差异无统计学意义(P值均＞0.05).Cox多因素生存分析显示,pTNM分期和淋巴结包膜外侵犯是影响pN+舌体鳞癌预后的独立危险因素.结论 pT分期、pN分期、pTNM分期、淋巴结包膜外侵犯是影响pN+舌体鳞癌颈部复发的因素;当淋巴结有包膜外侵犯时,术后放疗有可能降低颈部复发率;改良性颈清扫的颈部复发率与经典性颈清扫没有差异,对非淋巴结构无肿瘤侵犯的pN+舌体鳞癌尽量行改良性颈清扫;pN+舌体鳞癌转移和复发淋巴结主要分布在同侧Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ区,择区性颈清扫可应用于pN+舌体鳞癌.     

颈分区性淋巴结清扫术对头颈鳞癌颈淋巴结阳性患者的治疗意义

颈分区性淋巴结清扫术(selective neck dissection，SND)治疗颈淋巴结阴性头颈鳞癌患已被认为是有效的治疗方法。SND用于治疗颈淋巴结阳性头颈鳞癌患仍有争议，本就该问题对献资料进行综述，认为：①SND不仅是颈淋巴结阴性头颈部鳞癌患有效的治疗方法，也可有效治疗cN0、但pN^ 、无淋巴结包膜外侵犯的患；②SND对cN1患治疗也有较好的疗效；③cN0、cN1患，术后病理检查为pN2或转移淋巴结有包膜外侵犯应追加术后放疗。     

颈分区性清扫术治疗头颈部鳞状细胞癌的远期疗效

目的　研究颈分区性清扫术在头颈部鳞状细胞癌 (简称鳞癌 )治疗中的效果。方法　回顾性分析 1997年 1月～ 2 0 0 1年 12月在中国医学科学院肿瘤医院接受分区性清扫术的头颈部鳞癌患者 12 3例 ,其中喉癌 77例、口腔癌 2 9例、口咽癌 2例、下咽癌 15例。分区性清扫术后发现淋巴结病理阴性 (pN0 ) 99例 ,淋巴结病理阳性 (pN + ) 2 4例。随访时间中位数为 2 5个月。结果　 10 1例cN0患者行分区性清扫术后发现pN + 14例 ( 13 9% ) ;2 2例cN +患者行分区性清扫术后发现pN + 10例( 4 5 5 % )。 15 7侧分区性清扫标本中共发现 5 2枚阳性淋巴结 ,其在颈部的分布如下 :Ⅰ区 2 5 % ,Ⅱ区4 8% ,Ⅲ区 2 5 % ,Ⅳ区 2 %。根据Kaplan Meier方法计算 5年颈部复发率 ,pN0患者为 5 87% ( 95 %可信区间 0 8% ,10 9% ) ,pN +患者为 9 2 % ( 95 %可信区间 0 0 % ,2 1 5 % )。结论　颈分区性清扫术从微创观念出发 ,只要选择恰当 ,对于头颈部鳞癌患者可以取得与传统颈清扫术相当的效果。更重要的是保留了患者的功能和外观 ,提高了生活质量     

cN0声门上型喉癌颈淋巴结隐匿性转移规律及处理

目的:探讨cN0声门上型喉癌患者颈部淋巴结隐匿性转移规律并选择合理的颈清扫区域。方法:139例cN0声门上型喉癌患者在行喉切除术同时行颈淋巴结清扫术,其中行改良性颈清扫57例,肩胛舌骨肌上淋巴结清扫30例,颈Ⅱ、Ⅲ区淋巴结清扫52例。将所获淋巴结按颈部分区逐一行组织病理学检查,观察其转移规律及临床疗效。结果:139例cN0声门上型喉癌患者中,同期行单侧颈清扫113例,同期行双侧颈清扫26例。139例(165侧)颈清扫标本经病理学检查,颈淋巴结阳性36例(25.9%),首次病理学检查颈淋巴结阴性者在随访中发现未手术侧淋巴结转移6例,总颈淋巴结隐匿性转移率为30.2%(42/139),单侧隐匿性转移率为26.6%(37/139),双侧隐匿性转移率为3.6%(5/139)。165侧颈清扫标本共获得淋巴结3 594枚,平均每侧21.8枚,共获病理阳性淋巴结83枚,其中位于Ⅰ区1枚(1.2%),Ⅱ区65枚(78.3%),Ⅲ区16枚(19.3%),Ⅳ区1枚(1.2%),Ⅴ区0枚。颈部复发率为5.0%(7/139),pN0与pN+的颈部复发率分别为0和16.7%(7/42),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),总5年生存率为76.3%(106/139)。结论:颈Ⅱ、Ⅲ区是cN0声门上型喉癌颈部淋巴结隐匿性转移的主要区域,择区性(Ⅱ、Ⅲ区)颈淋巴结清扫术治疗cN0声门上型喉癌是合适的。     

对cN0喉及下咽癌患者进行Ⅳ区和Ⅴ区的颈清扫是否合理

目的:为了制定恰当的颈清扫治疗方案,对cN0喉癌和下咽癌患者的淋巴结累及区域和复发率作一评价。方法:回顾性分析接受局限性颈淋巴结清除术的238例cN0患者,至少随访24个月,并对局部复发进行评估。结果:Ⅳ区的隐匿性淋巴结转移率是3.4%;其中单独转移至Ⅳ区的是1.5%。我们观察发现颈部的局部复发率是5.6%,在Ⅴ区没有发现淋巴结转移和局部复发。结论:当术中颈淋巴结冷冻切片为阴性,对cN0患者可合理性做出Ⅱ、Ⅲ区清扫术,Ⅳ区部分清扫术及对侧颈部淋巴结清扫术,得出结论:Ⅴ区颈清扫术是没有必要的,除非在Ⅴ区有明显的转移灶。     

叶绿素染色在喉癌下咽癌颈淋巴结清扫术中的应用

目的 :探讨喉癌、下咽癌的颈淋巴结转移方式。方法 :对 5 0例喉癌、下咽癌患者于颈清扫术前 ,在喉及下咽粘膜下注射叶绿素使颈淋巴结系统染色 ,指导施行颈清扫术并收集淋巴结 ,进行连续切片观察。结果 :颈淋巴结被染成深绿色 ,与周围组织颜色对比明显 ,便于颈部手术和采集淋巴结 ;经病理检查证实 ,颈淋巴结总的转移率为 4 8% ,Ⅰ、Ⅴ区转移时均伴有其它区域的转移 ,Ⅱ、Ⅲ区转移率高于Ⅰ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ区 (P <0 .0 1) ;临床诊断颈淋巴结阴性 (cN0 )的患者淋巴结转移率为 2 3.5 % ,转移区域均在Ⅱ、Ⅲ区。结论 :临床诊断颈淋巴结阳性 (cN+ )喉癌、下咽癌患者的颈清扫手术 ,首先要保证清扫II、III区淋巴结 ,术中所见决定选择性颈清扫术式 ,对cN0 的下咽癌或声门上癌可行单侧或双侧颈深上、中淋巴结清扫术。叶绿素染色清晰 ,安全无毒 ,便于手术 ,可以在颈清扫术中常规应用     

舌活动部鳞癌颈淋巴结阴性（cN0）的处理

目的：通过分析舌活动部鳞癌病人临床检查颈淋巴结阴性（cN0)的隐匿性淋巴结转移在颈部各区的分布，显示舌活动部鳞癌的淋巴结转移规律，并指导舌活动部鳞癌cN0的分区性颈淋巴清扫的范围。方法：回顾分析33例cN0的舌活动部鳞癌行选择性全颈淋巴结清扫和挽救性颈淋巴结清扫术的病例，分析手术后病理阳性淋巴结（pN^ )在颈部各区的分布。结果：病理证实单个淋巴结转移14例，其中Ⅰ区淋巴结转移3例，Ⅱ区淋巴结转移7例，Ⅲ区淋巴结转移4例，Ⅳ区和Ⅴ区未见淋巴结转移，多个淋巴结转移19例，各区转移频率分别为：Ⅰ区27.45%,Ⅱ区39.22%，Ⅲ区31.37%,Ⅳ区0%，Ⅴ区1.96%。结论：舌活动部鳞癌cN0的颈部处理没有必要采用经典性全颈清扫术，建议行肩胛舌骨肌上的分区性清扫，即Ⅰ区清扫 Ⅱ区清扫 Ⅲ区清扫即可，避免全颈清术给患者造成的术后损害。     

颈Ⅱ和Ⅲ区清扫术治疗cNO声门上型喉鳞状细胞癌

目的 研究择区性即ⅡA、ⅡB和Ⅲ区颈淋巴结清扫术(selective neck dissection,SND)治疗临床颈淋巴结阴性(clinical node negative,cN0)的声门上荆喉鳞癌隐匿性颈转移的可行性.方法 回顾性分析2002年10月至2006年3月在哈尔滨医科大学肿瘤医院头颈外科行SND(ⅡA、ⅡB和Ⅲ区)治疗52例cN0声门上型喉癌的治疗结果.结果 52例cNO声门上型喉癌中32例同期行单侧(ⅡA、ⅡB和Ⅲ区),20例行双侧SND.52例颈清扫标本病理检查发现,颈转移阳性者15例(28.9%).3例首次病理检查阴性者在随访中发生未手术侧颈部转移,总的颈隐匿性转移率为34.6%(18/52),单侧、双侧隐匿性颈转移率分别为28.8%和5.8%.72侧颈清标本共获淋巴结1190枚,其中病理阳性30枚,分布于ⅡA区25枚(83.3%)、Ⅲ区5枚(16.7%).术侧颈部复发率为5.8%(3/52).Kaplan-Meier法统计3年累积生存率为84.6%.淋巴结病理阴性和阳性的颈部复发率分别为0(0/34)和16.7%(3/18),差异有统计学意义(Fisher精确检验,P=0.021),有无包膜外侵犯的颈部复发率分别为50%(2/4)和2.1%(1/48),差异有统计学意义(Fisher精确检验,户=0.002).结论 颈SND(ⅡA、ⅡB和Ⅲ区)治疗cNO声门上型喉癌颈隐匿性转移是可行的,该术式能缩短手术时间、减少并发症且不影响肿瘤治疗效果.     

颈分区性清扫术治疗头颈部鳞状细胞癌的远期疗效

目的 研究颈分区性清扫术在头颈部鳞状细胞癌(简称鳞癌)治疗中的效果。方法 回顾性分析1997年1月～2001年12月在中国医学科学院肿瘤医院接受分区性清扫术的头颈部鳞癌患者123例，其中喉癌77例、口腔癌29例、口咽癌2例、下咽癌15例。分区性清扫术后发现淋巴结病理阴性(pNO)99例，淋巴结病理阳性(pN )24例。随访时间中位数为25个月。结果 101例cNO患者行分区性清扫术后发现pN 14例(13．9％)；22例cN 患者行分区性清扫术后发现pN 10例(45．5％)。157侧分区性清扫标本中共发现52枚阳性淋巴结，其在颈部的分布如下：I区25％，Ⅱ区48％，Ⅲ区25％，Ⅳ区2％。根据Kaplan—Meier方法计算5年颈部复发率，pNO患者为5．87％(95％可信区间0．8％，10．9％)，pN 患者为9．2％(95％可信区间0．0％，21．5％)。结论 颈分区性清扫术从微创观念出发，只要选择恰当，对于头颈部鳞癌患者可以取得与传统颈清扫术相当的效果。更重要的是保留了患者的功能和外观，提高了生活质量。     

Selective neck dissection (IIA, III): a rational replacement for complete functional neck dissection in patients with N0 supraglottic and glottic squamous carcinoma

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this paper is to determine the optimal elective treatment of the neck for patients with supraglottic and glottic squamous carcinoma. During the past century, various types of necks dissection have been employed including conventional and modified radical neck dissection (MRND), selective neck dissection (SND) and various modifications of SND. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A number of studies were reviewed to compare the results of MRND and SND in regional recurrence and survival of patients with supraglottic and glottic cancers, as well as the distribution of lymph node metastases in these tumors. RESULTS: Data from seven prospective, multi-institutional, pathologic, and molecular analyses of neck dissection specimens, obtained from 272 patients with laryngeal squamous carcinoma and clinically negative necks, revealed only four patients (1.4%) with positive lymph nodes at sublevel IIB. Data was also collected from three prospective, multi-institutional, pathologic and molecular studies of neck dissection specimens which include 175 patients with laryngeal squamous carcinoma (only 2 with subglottic cancer) and clinically negative necks. Only six patients (3.4%) had positive nodes at level IV. CONCLUSIONS: SND of sublevel IIA and level III appears to be adequate for elective surgical treatment of the neck in supraglottic and glottic squamous carcinoma. Dissection of level IV lymph nodes may not be justified for elective neck dissection of stage N0 supraglottic and glottic squamous carcinoma. Bilateral neck dissection in cases of supraglottic cancer may be necessary only in patients with centrally or bilaterally located tumors.     

择区性颈清扫术在临床N0舌鳞状细胞癌治疗中的应用

目的比较择区性颈清扫术(selective neck dissection，SND)与经典性或改良性颈清扫术(radical neck dissection，RND)在治疗舌鳞状细胞癌颈淋巴结临床阴性(cN0)患者中的效果。方法将1998年1月-2002年12月之间采用肩胛舌骨肌上颈清扫术(Ⅰ～Ⅲ区)14例及Ⅰ～Ⅳ区清扫19例(SND组)共33例与1980年1月-1997年12月之间112例采用经典性或改良性颈清扫术(RND组)的病例，根据T分期、综合治疗方式和淋巴结病理情况进行随机配对分析。Kaplan—Meier方法计算复发率和颈部淋巴结复发或生存趋势。结果RND组5年颈部复发率为9．1％(3例)，SND组5年同侧颈部复发率12．1％(4例)；两组的5年生存率分别是78．8％和82．9％(分别为26例和28例)。Ⅰ-Ⅲ区清扫组5年颈部复发率为21．2％(3例)，清扫野外复发率为14．3％(2例)；Ⅰ-Ⅳ区清扫组5年同侧颈部复发率5．3％(1例)，清扫野外复发率为0。结论与经典性或改良性颈清扫术相比，择区性颈清扫术并不影响cN0舌癌患者的肿瘤治疗效果，术式以Ⅰ～Ⅳ区清扫为适宜。     

Selective neck dissection in the management of the clinically node-negative neck

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the selective neck dissection (SND) in the management of the clinically node-negative neck. STUDY DESIGN: Case histories were evaluated retrospectively. METHODS: The results of 300 neck dissections performed on 210 patients were studied. RESULTS: The primary sites were oral cavity (91), oropharynx (30), hypopharynx (16), and larynx (73). Seventy-one necks (23%) were node positive on pathological examination. The number of positive nodes varied from 1 to 9 per side. Of necks with positive nodes, 17 (24%) had extracapsular spread. The median follow-up was 41 months. Recurrent disease developed in the dissected neck of 11 patients (4%). Two recurrences developed outside the dissected field. The incidence of regional recurrences was similar in patients in whom nodes were negative on histological examination (3%) when compared with patients with positive nodes without extracapsular spread (4%). In contrast, regional recurrence developed in 18% of necks with extracapsular spread. This observation was statistically significant. Patients having more than two metastatic lymph nodes had a higher incidence of recurrent disease than the patients with carcinoma limited to one or two nodes. Recurrence rate in the pathologically node positive (pN+) necks was comparable to recurrence in those pathologically node negative (pNO) necks in the patients who did not have irradiation. CONCLUSION: SND is effective for controlling neck disease and serves to detect patients who require adjuvant therapy.     

Results of selective neck dissection in the primary management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Selective neck dissection (SND) is known to be a valid procedure to stage the clinically N0 neck but its reliability to control metastatic neck disease remains controversial. This study analysed if selective neck dissection is a reliable procedure to prevent regional metastatic disease in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We retrospectively analysed the medical records of 163 previously untreated patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx and hypopharynx treated initially in our departement from January 1990 to December 2002. All patients had unilateral or bilateral SND, in combination with surgical resection of the primary tumour. SND was performed in 281 necks. Finally, 146 patients who underwent 249 SND (39 I–III, I–IV, 210 II–IV, II–V) had adequate follow-up and were assessed for the regional control. The median follow-up was 37 months (1–180 months). The end points of the study were neck control following SND and overall survival. Twenty-five percent (30/119) of patients staged cN0 had lymph node (LN) metastasis. Overall, regional recurrence was observed in 2.8% of the necks (7/249): 1.6% (4/249) in dissected field and 1.2% (3/249) in undissected field. Seventy-eight percent (194/249) of the necks were staged pN0 with a subsequent failure rate of 1.5% (3/194); 16% (39/249) were staged pN1 and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) was proposed in 21 of these patients. The failure rate with PORT was 9.5% and 5.5% without PORT. Six percent (16/249) of the necks were staged pN2b and all had PORT with one subsequent recurrence. Extracapsular spread (ECS) was reported in 16.5% of positive SND specimens (9/55); all by one were treated by PORT with a subsequent failure rate of 22% (2/9). At 3 years, overall survival for the whole population was 70% and statistically highly correlated with pN stage (p<0.001). These results support the reliability of SND to stage the clinically N0 neck. SND is a definitive operation not only in pN0 but also in most pN1 and pN2b necks. PORT is not justified in pN1 neck without ECS. In pN2b necks, the low rate of recurrence supports adjuvant PORT. The presence of ECS, despite adjuvant PORT, remains associated with a higher risk of recurrence.     

喉及下咽鳞癌颈淋巴结隐匿性转移灶的研究

目的 :进一步探讨喉及下咽鳞癌颈淋巴结转移规律 ,为喉及下咽鳞癌颈淋巴结清扫术提供理论依据。方法 :收集 1997年 5月～ 1999年 7月 4 0例临床颈淋巴结阴性 ( c N0 )的喉及下咽鳞癌患者改良根治性颈清扫术所得标本 ,且术前未经任何治疗者为研究病例。对颈清扫淋巴结 (共 2 2 19枚 )进行常规 HE及免疫组化法检查。全部病例随访 1年以上。结果 :喉及下咽鳞癌出现颈淋巴结转移 14例 ( 3 5 % ) ,共 3 1枚 ( 1.4 % )淋巴结 ,其中声门上癌 6例 ( 6/2 0 ) ,跨声门癌 1例 ( 1/1) ,下咽癌 7例 ( 7/10 )。 9例声门癌无颈淋巴结转移。颈淋巴结转移均位于颈 、 区。结论 :喉及下咽鳞癌颈淋巴结转移多发生于患侧颈 、 区 (局限于声门区喉癌除外 )。对于 T2 ～ T4 声门上癌、跨声门癌及下咽癌的 c N0 患者 ,根据其可能发生颈淋巴结隐匿性转移的高危险性 ,建议行患侧或双侧颈 及 区淋巴结清扫术。     

改良性颈廓清术在声门上型喉癌患者中的应用

目的 :为提高声门上型喉癌患者的生存率和生存质量 ,总结颈廓清术中保留颈内静脉的临床经验。方法 :88例声门上型喉癌患者中 ,在原发灶切除同时 ,共进行 146侧 (双侧 116例 ,单侧 30例 )颈廓清术 ,其中改良颈廓清 (MND)10 6侧 ,根治颈廓清 (RND) 4 0侧。双颈廓清术 5 8例 ,其中同期双颈廓清 32例 ,18例保留双侧颈内静脉 ,14例保留一侧颈内静脉 ;分期双颈廓清 2 6例 ,第一次均为 RND,第二次均为 MND。 30例行一侧颈廓清术 ,术中均保留颈内静脉。结果 :患者 3年生存率同期双颈廓清 81.5 % (2 2 / 2 7) ,分期双颈廓清 6 0 .9% (14/ 2 3) ,一侧颈廓清 75 % (15 / 2 0 )。5年生存率同期双颈廓清 6 1.5 % (16 / 2 6 ) ,分期双颈廓清 40 .9% (9/ 2 2 ) ,一侧颈廓清 70 .6 % (12 / 17)。 MND最大淋巴结直径≤ 3cm,术后复发率 12 .9% (11/ 85 ) ,>3cm者复发率为 47.6 % (10 / 2 1) ,总复发率为 19.8% (2 1/ 10 6 )。 RND术后颈淋巴结复发率为2 2 .5 % (9/ 40 )。结论 :声门上型喉癌常有双颈淋巴结转移 ,需行双颈廓清术 ,并必须保留一侧颈内静脉。在淋巴结小于3cm ,肉眼观与颈内静脉无粘连时保留颈内静脉 ,不增加淋巴结复发率 ,减少并发症 ,并提高生存质量。     

Selective neck dissection in the management of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper digestive tract

Selective neck dissection has been used clinically in elective treatment of carcinoma, although many surgeons continue to advocate modified radical or radical neck dissection for therapeutic management of the neck. In a retrospective study 167 previously untreated patients were reviewed following curative laser microsurgical resections of oral or pharyngeal primary tumors and a unior bilateral selective neck dissection. In all, 221 (54 bilateral) neck dissections were performed. In patients with oral primary disease lymph nodes of levels I–III were removed, while nodes in levels II and III were removed in patients with pharyngeal tumors. Level IV was dissected when several metastases were suspected during operation. The posterior triangle was not dissected. Lymph nodes were histopathologically negative in 73 patients and positive in 94 patients. Twenty-five of these latter cases had pN1 disease, 55 had pN2b disease and 10 had bilateral lymph node metastases. Twenty patients in the pN0 group and 63 patients in the pN⁺ group received postoperative radiotherapy (to 56.7 Gy to the primary site and 52.5 Gy to the neck). With a median follow-up interval of 34 months, recurrence in the dissected neck occurred in 3 of 73 patients (4.1%) with pN0 disease and 6 of 90 patients (6.6%) with pN⁺ necks. Four patients with pN⁺ necks had simultaneous recurrences at the primary site. The addition of adjuvant radiotherapy seemed to improve disease control in the neck and improve overall survival in patients with an unfavorable prognosis due to multiple metastases or metastases with extracapsular spread.Presented at the 66th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Karlsruhe, 27–31 May 1995     

Neck Dissection of Level IIb: Is it Really Necessary?

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether resection of level IIb is necessary in elective or therapeutic neck dissections. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case series. METHODS: Level IIb nodes were analyzed for micrometastases as separate specimens in 160 neck dissections on 148 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. RESULTS: In 106 elective neck dissections (N0 necks) from upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) and skin/parotid squamous carcinoma primaries, level IIb was involved in 4.5% and 33%, respectively. In 54 therapeutic neck dissections (N+ necks) from UADT and skin/parotid squamous carcinoma primaries, level IIb was involved in 25% and 71%, respectively. Apart from skin/parotid squamous carcinoma primaries, level IIb was never involved unless level IIa was also involved. CONCLUSIONS: Level IIb nodes can be left in situ in UADT primary carcinomas in nontonsillar N0 necks without significantly compromising regional clearance of micrometastases.     

Levels II and III neck dissection for larynx cancer with N0 neck

The removal of level II, III, and IV metastases has gained importance in the treatment of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the neck and larynx. This study assessed the possibility of removing level II and level III metastases only, given the low likelihood of occurrence of metastatic lymph nodes on level IV in SCCs of the larynx.ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze the prevalence rates of metastatic lymph nodes on level IV in laryngeal SCC patients.MethodsThis prospective study enrolled consecutive patients with laryngeal SCC submitted to neck lymph node dissection. Neck levels were identified and marked for future histopathology testing.ResultsSix percent (3/54) of the necks had level IV metastatic lymph nodes. All cN0 necks (42) were free from level IV metastasis. Histopathology testing done in the cN (+) necks (12) revealed that 25% of the level IV specimens were positive for SCC. The difference between cN0 and cN (+) necks was statistically significant (p = 0.009). Level IV metastases never occurred in isolation, and were always associated with level II or level III involvement (p = 0.002).ConclusionThe prevalence rate for lymph node metastasis in cN0 necks was 0%. Level IV metastatic lymph nodes were correlated to cN (+) necks. Level IV metastasis was associated with the presence of metastatic lymph nodes in levels II or III.