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.     

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.     

Predictive value of sentinel node biopsy in head and neck cancer

CONCLUSIONS: The negative predictive value (NPV) of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) in this study was 95%. The accuracy of SNB compared to histopathologic evaluation of surgical specimen of subsequent neck dissection (ND) was 96%. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate NPV of SNB in head and neck cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective clinical study comprising 35 patients (50 necks) with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of head and neck with clinically (cN0) and radiologically negative necks, without previous treatment, who underwent SNB with gamma probe and subsequent ND. The NPV, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of SNB were compared to histopathologic assessment of surgical specimens from NDs. Negative sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) on histopathology were evaluated with step serial section (SSS) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). When a neck had a positive SLN, all lymph nodes of subsequent NDs were studied with SSS and IHC. RESULTS: There were primaries of the oral cavity (n=24), lip (n=3), oropharynx (n=3), and larynx (n=5). All patients had detected SLNs. In all, 41 necks were SLN-negative on histopathologic evaluation but 2 (5%) had metastases in non-SLNs after ND. Of these 41 necks, SLNs were level Ib (26%), IIa (45%), III (21%), and IV (8%). Nine necks presented positive SLN on histopathologic evaluation, level Ib (n=3), IIa (n=5), and III (n=2), and subsequent NDs were negative on conventional histopathologic analysis, but after SSS and IHC, two presented micrometastases.     

The role of cervical lymphadenectomy after aggressive concomitant chemoradiotherapy: the feasibility of selective neck dissection

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the necessity, technical feasibility, and complication rate of neck dissection performed on patients with head and neck cancer after 5 cycles of concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and to justify a selective neck dissection (SND) approach and define the optimal timing of post-CRT neck dissection. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective analysis in an academic university medical center. PATIENTS: Sixty-nine eligible patients with advanced (stage III and IV) head and neck cancer who have undergone 1 of 4 CRT protocols. Patients ranged in age from 36 to 75 years, and surgical procedures were performed over a 4-year period. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 64 months. INTERVENTION: Neck dissection (most commonly unilateral SND) performed within 5 to 17 weeks after CRT completion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Complication rate and incidence of positive pathology (viable cancer) in pathologic neck dissection specimens. RESULTS: Seven (10%) of 69 patients developed wound healing complications, 4 (6%) of whom required surgical intervention for ultimate closure. There were no wound infections. Other complications occurred in 11 (16%) of 69 patients and included need for tracheotomy, nerve transection and paresis, and permanent hypocalcemia. Twenty-four (35%) of 69 patients revealed microscopic residual disease. Ten (50%) of 20 patients with N3 neck disease had positive pathology, whereas 14 (36%) of 39 patients with N2 disease had viable carcinoma in the dissection specimen (P =.09 by chi(2) analysis). There was no significant relation between radiologic complete response or partial response and residual microscopic cancer. In 1 patient, disease recurred in the neck after dissection. Mean follow-up time was 30.3 months. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Neck dissection for patients with N2 or greater neck disease after CRT is necessary to eradicate residual disease. (2) The complication rate of SND after CRT with hyperfractionated radiotherapy is low. (3) SNDs are technically feasible when performed within the "window" between the acute and chronic CRT injury (4-12 weeks). (4) SNDs, rather than more radical procedures, appear to be therapeutically appropriate in this group of patients because of the low incidence of disease recurrence in the neck.     

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.     

择区性颈清扫术在头颈部鳞状细胞癌颈淋巴转移患者中应用的初步分析

目的 探讨择区性颈清扫术(selective neck dissection)在伴N1、N2期颈淋巴转移头颈部鳞状细胞癌(简称鳞癌)中的疗效.方法 回顾性分析36例伴N1、N2期颈淋巴转移的头颈部鳞癌患者行40侧择区性颈清扫术,16侧行全颈清扫术的临床资料,评价择区性颈清扫术的疗效.KaplanMeier法行累积生存率统计,Log-rank检验比较生存率差异;有无淋巴结包膜外侵犯病例复发率的差异分析采用Fisher精确概率法;采用Cox比例风险模型对可能影响患者生存时间的因素进行分析.结果 36例患者3和5年生存率分别为76.8%和54.3%.N1+N2a组3和5年生存率均为100%,N2b+N2c组3和5年生存率分别为59.4%和32.0%,Log-rank检验两组患者5年生存率差异有统计学意义(P=0.003).有无淋巴结包膜外侵犯分组的复发率分别为36.4%和3.4%,差异有统计学意义(P=0.015);3年生存率分别为45.5%和81.8%,5年生存率分别为39.7%和65.5%,差异均有统计学意义(P值分别为0.0148和0.0423).多因素分析证实淋巴结包膜外侵犯是影响患者生存时间的危险因素(P=0.042,OR=0.328,OR值95%可信限为0.112～0.959).结论 头颈部鳞癌N1期患者采用择区性颈清扫术可有满意的疗效,对N2期病变和伴有淋巴结包膜外侵犯的病例需谨慎处理,必要时扩大清扫范围甚至变更术式为全颈清扫术或改良全颈清扫术以提高术后颈部肿瘤控制率.     

Elective treatment of the neck for second primary tumors of the head and neck

The aim of this study was to define the role of elective neck dissection in patients with a second N0 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We carried out a retrospective study in 74 patients with a second N0 HNSCC treated with an elective neck dissection. Thirteen patients (17.6 %) had occult neck node metastases. The risk of occult neck nodes was low for patients with a second glottic tumor (0 %), and for patients with non-glottic T1–T2 tumors who had received previous radiotherapy in the neck (5.3 %). Patients with non-glottic locally advanced tumors (T3–T4) and non-glottic T1–T2 tumors who had not received previous radiotherapy in the neck had a risk of occult neck nodes of 28.1 and 33.3 %, respectively. Elective neck dissection could be omitted in patients with glottic tumors and in patients with an early tumor (T1–T2) who had received previous radiotherapy in the neck.     

Planned neck dissection after concomitant radiochemotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Since 1998, at our academic, multidisciplinary head and neck cancer treatment center, it has been our policy to treat appropriate patients with locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) with concomitant radiochemotherapy followed within 6 weeks by planned neck dissection(s). Our objective was to investigate the oncologic efficacy of planned neck dissection, to date, in this patient population with a focus on outcomes in the neck. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of a cumulative patient database. METHODS: The medical records of all patients who underwent planned neck dissection(s) after concomitant radiochemotherapy for locoregionally advanced SCCHN at Beth Israel Medical Center and The Institute for Head and Neck Cancer in New York City were reviewed. For each patient, preradiochemotherapy primary and neck stage, postradiochemotherapy/preneck dissection clinical and radiographic neck status, type of neck dissection(s) performed, pathologic status of the neck dissection specimen(s), length of follow-up (after planned neck dissection), disease status at last follow-up, and site(s) of recurrence were recorded. Local, regional, and distant disease control rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Fifty-one planned neck dissections were performed on 39 radiochemotherapy patients (12 patients had bilateral operations) between early 1998 and October, 2003. Thirty-two (82%) patients had N2 or greater neck disease, with 29 (74%) having T3/T4 disease at various upper aerodigestive tract primary sites. Patients received an average of 6,700 cGy and 6,000 cGy external beam radiation therapy to primary disease sites and involved cervical lymphatics respectively, concomitant with one of three platinum-based chemotherapy schedules. At a mean follow-up time of 24 (range 8-57) months for the entire study population, there has been only one neck recurrence (N2A neck). No patient with N2B (n = 11), N2C (n = 13, with majority of heminecks staged N2B), or N3 (n = 5) disease has recurred in the neck. No recurrences have occurred in the 41 heminecks (in 33 patients) where modified neck dissection (including 24 selective procedures) was performed despite the presence of residual carcinoma in 13 (32%) of these heminecks on pathologic review. Among all heminecks with residual carcinoma present (n = 18) in the neck dissection specimen, there has been only one neck recurrence. There have been no recurrences in the 26 heminecks (in 19 patients) with incomplete clinical response after radiochemotherapy despite the presence of residual carcinoma in 14 (54%) of these necks on pathologic review. The clinical and radiographic absence of residual disease after radiochemotherapy did not always predict a complete pathologic response. Surgical complications have been limited (1 chyle leak, 1 wound breakdown). CONCLUSIONS: The integration of planned neck dissection into the multidisciplinary management of patients with locoregionally advanced SCCHN is highly effective in controlling cervical metastatic disease. Modified and selective neck dissection procedures can be performed in the majority of patients, regardless of the response in the neck subsequent to concomitant radiochemotherapy. We recommend a planned neck dissection(s) in all patients staged (pretreatment) with N2 or greater neck disease and in select N1 cases.     

Management of contralateral N0 neck in tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: It is well established that tonsillar squamous cell carcinomas have a high probability of disseminating to the neck. An ipsilateral neck treatment is mandatory during initial treatment of stages II to IV tonsillar carcinomas. However, as of yet, no consensus exists whether to perform elective contralateral neck management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 43 N0-3 tonsillar cancer patients with contralateral clinically negative necks from 1992 to 2002 was performed. All patients had a contralateral elective neck dissection. Surgical treatment was followed by postoperative radiotherapy in 33 patients. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 120 (mean 38) months. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to calculate the disease-specific survival rates and prognostic significance of contralateral occult lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: Clinically negative, but pathologically positive, contralateral lymph nodes occurred in 16% (7 of 43). Of the 33 cases with an ipsilateral node positive neck, contralateral occult lymph node metastases developed in 21% (7 of 33), in contrast with 0% in ipsilateral N0 necks. On the basis of the clinical staging of the tumor, 5% (1 of 22) of the cases showed lymph node metastases in T2 tumors, 36% (5 of 14) in T3, and 25% (1 of 4) in T4. None of the T1 tumors (3 cases) had pathologically positive lymph nodes (T1 + T2 vs. T3 + T4, P < .05). Patients with no evidence of contralateral nodal cancer had significantly improved disease-specific survival over patients with any pathologically positive nodes (5 year disease-specific survival rate 92% vs. 28%, P = < .05). CONCLUSION: The risk of contralateral occult neck involvement in above T3 staged tonsillar squamous cell carcinomas with unilateral metastases was high (approximately 21%), and patients who present with a contralateral metastatic neck have a worse prognosis than those who are staged as N0. Therefore, we advocate an elective contralateral neck treatment in tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma patients with ipsilateral node metastases.     

Treatment effects in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

A total of 221 patients (155 males, 66 females; stage I, n = 55: stage II, n = 58; stage III, n = 57; stage IV, n = 51) with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity were studied. Tumor localization was as follows: cancer of the tongue, n = 161; cancer of the oral floor, n = 28; cancer of the hard palate, n = 12; cancer of the buccal mucosa, n = 11; and cancer of the gingiva, n = 9. In order to compare the effect of different treatments, three major treatment groups were defined, namely a surgery group, a radiotherapy group and a combination treatment group. Five-year cumulative survival rates showed significant differences between stage classifications (stage I = 91%, stage II = 73%, stage III = 63%, stage IV = 47%; p < 0.01) but not between tumor sites. The 5-year cumulative survival rate was highest for oral floor cancer (80%). In the early-cancer group, the 5-year cumulative survival rate for the surgery group (92%) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those for both the radiation (69%) and combination (71%) groups. In the advanced-cancer group, the 5-year cumulative survival rate for the surgery group (74%) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those for both the radiation (37%) and combination (51%) groups. No significant difference in regional control rates was observed between the treatment groups. Five-year regional control rates were 86% for cervical untreated patients with T1N0 tumors and 60% for cervical untreated patients with T2N0 tumors. Fourteen N0 cases were treated with neck dissection. Cervical metastasis was found pathologically in 2/14 (14%) of these cases. The 5-year survival rate for patients with cervical recurrences after primary tumor resection was 70% (n = 15). In contrast, the 5-year survival rate for patients with both primary tumor resection and neck dissection was 74% (n = 14) but no significant difference was observed between these 2 groups.     

Involvement of level I neck lymph nodes in advanced squamous carcinoma of the larynx

This study was performed to evaluate the incidence of metastasis at level I in patients with squamous laryngeal cancer. One hundred consecutive patients with squamous carcinoma of the larynx were submitted to surgical treatment including radical neck dissection. The tumor stage was T3 or T4, and the neck stage was N1-N2c. Lymph node metastases were pathologically confirmed in 80 patients. Metastases were concentrated within level II in 59% of cases, level III in 17% of cases, level IV in 11% of cases, and level V in 6% of cases. Only 2 patients (2%) had detectable tumors in the lymph nodes of the submandibular triangle (level IB). This study shows that patients with laryngeal cancer rarely present metastases at the submandibular triangle, even in advanced local disease with cervical metastasis staged as N1 to N2c. Therefore, dissection of the submandibular triangle is indicated only in the presence of clinical, radiographic, or cytologic evidence of metastatic disease at level I.     

影响早期舌癌预后的因素及颈部的治疗

目的 分析早期舌体鳞癌的预后相关因素及颈淋巴处理方式对生存率的影响,探讨早期舌癌的颈部治疗策略.方法 回顾性分析1994年1月至2003年12月期间152例经手术治疗的早期舌癌患者的临床及随访资料,任意分为颈部观察组与颈清扫组两大组,其中颈清扫组分为肩胛舌骨肌上清扫组和全颈清扫组(即全颈清扫和改良颈清扫).分析早期舌癌预后的临床病理因素和颈部治疗与否及不同的颈淋巴处理方式对颈部复发转移和生存率的影响.结果 全组病例随访5年以上或至患者死亡,5年随访率为94.7%.颈部观察组32例与颈清扫组120例的颈部复发率分别为34.4%和14.2%,差异有统计学意义(χ2=6.865,P<0.01);Kaplan-Meier法统计5年生存率分别为68%和79%,差异无统计意义(χ2=1.699,P>0.05).肩胛舌骨肌上清扫组与全颈清扫组的颈部转移复发率及5年生存率差异均无统计学意义(P值均>0.05).病理诊断有淋巴结转移和治疗后颈部复发转移患者的5年生存率明显低于无淋巴结转移和治疗后无颈部复发转移者,差异均有统计学意义(P值均<0.01).结论 隐匿性淋巴转移和复发是影响早期舌癌预后最主要的因素.肩胛舌骨肌上淋巴清扫虽然不能提高5年生存率,但能明显地降低颈部复发率.鉴于早期舌癌的隐匿性高且颈部复发挽救率低,建议对未过中线的早期舌癌应行同侧Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ区的清扫,以减少颈部复发率.     

Is routine bilateral neck dissection absolutely necessary in the management of N0 neck in patients with supraglottic carcinoma?

The supraglottic larynx has a rich lymphatic network that places patients with supraglottic laryngeal carcinomas at high risk for early dissemination of the disease into the cervical lymphatics. Therefore, elective neck treatment of clinically N0 neck in patients with supraglottic carcinomas is widely accepted as a standard approach. However, the issue whether elective neck treatment should routinely be directed on both sides of the neck is still controversial. The present study is aimed at determining whether T2–T4 stage supraglottic carcinomas require bilateral neck dissection in the management of N0 necks. We designed a prospective study on 72 patients with N0 supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma. Patients were divided into three groups according to the site and extension of the primary tumors. Group I consisted of 21 patients with lateralized (clear lateral) lesion reaching but not crossing the midline. Group II comprised 25 patients with cancer largely involving one side and crossing to the midline. Group III included 26 patients with carcinoma equally involving both sides of the larynx or growth into the midline larynx. All patients underwent bilateral lateral neck dissection in conjunction with various types of laryngectomies selected to the status of the primary. Of the 72 patients, 16 were found to have occult regional metastases in pathologic examination (9 pN1, 4 pN2b, 3 pN2c). The prevalence of occult metastases proportionally increased with T stage from 8.3 to 22.7 and 31.2%, respectively, for T2, T3 and T4. Bilateral neck metastases were found in 2 of 26 patients (7.7%) with central lesions. There was only one patient (4%) with both ipsilateral and contralateral lymph node metastasis in group II. None of the 21 patients with lateral lesion (group I) had contralateral neck metastasis. Routine bilateral elective neck dissection may not be a part of the surgical procedure in all supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma patients. Bilateral neck dissection should be preferred for cases with central tumors and lateral tumors with positive nodes in the ipsilateral side of the neck.     

Multicentric prospective study on the prevalence of sublevel IIb metastases in head and neck cancer

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of sublevel IIB lymph node (LN) metastases for head and neck primary tumors in a large cohort of patients. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: One referral university hospital and 2 national institutes of oncology. PATIENTS: Between 2003 and 2005, 297 patients (male to female ratio, 3.5:1; mean age, 58.8 years [range, 18-89 years]) affected by head and neck cancer were treated by surgery on the primary tumor and/or the neck. Primary site distribution included the following: oral cavity in 111 patients, larynx in 92, oropharynx in 32, thyroid gland in 22, skin of the lateral face or scalp in 16, hypopharynx in 11, unknown primary in 7, and parotid gland in 6. Sublevel IIB was evaluated for the number of LNs and pathologic N (pN) status. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent unilateral or bilateral neck dissection (ND) with therapeutic or elective intent according to the primary site and clinical T (cT) and clinical N (cN) status. Sublevel IIB was selectively dissected at the beginning of ND, labeled, and processed independently. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The distribution of metastases among the different levels was analyzed. The influence of several factors (institution in which the surgical procedure was performed, sex of the patient, site of primary, histotype, pathologic T [pT] status, cN status, lower level involved in the neck together with sublevel IIB, association with sublevel IIA metastasis, ipsilateral number of involved levels, and previous surgical treatment limited on the primary site) on the prevalence of sublevel IIB metastasis was statistically evaluated by the Pearson chi(2) test or Fisher exact test. RESULTS: A total of 443 NDs were performed (unilateral in 151 patients and bilateral in 146). Among the patients, the tumors were staged cN0/pN0 in 27%, cN+/pN+ in 50%, cN+/pN0 in 7%, and cN0/pN+ in 16%. The mean number of LNs collected at sublevel IIB was 5.4 (range, 0-24). The overall prevalence of sublevel IIB metastases was 5.6% (26 neck sides). Tumor histologic type in the sublevel IIB+ population was squamous cell carcinoma in 80%, papillary carcinoma in 8%, melanoma in 8%, and adenocarcinoma in 4%. The chi(2) test showed a significantly higher risk for LN metastases at sublevel IIB in patients affected by parotid gland primary tumors (33%), tumors of the skin or scalp (25%), unknown primary tumors (14%), and cancers of the oral cavity (10%) (P = .02) and in those clinically staged as cN+ (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Sublevel IIB dissection is strongly recommended for all patients with cN+ tumors and in those affected by tumor of the parotid gland, skin, and scalp scheduled for elective ND. Patients affected by laryngeal cancer scheduled for elective ND can be considered the ideal candidates for preservation of sublevel IIB. However, whether this policy could be associated with a better functional outcome remains to be demonstrated by prospective studies on a large series of patients.     

Planned neck dissection after weekly docetaxel and concurrent radiotherapy for advanced oropharyngeal cancer

Small oropharyngeal carcinomas with advanced neck metastases (stage N2 or greater) are common. Patients with small T with large N oropharyngeal carcinoma have high rates of local control but lower rates of regional control when treated with chemoradiotherapy. Clinical assessment after chemoradiotherapy cannot ensure the absence of neck disease. In the last 5 years, we have treated patients with T1-2 with N2-3 oropharyngeal carcinoma with weekly docetaxel radiotherapy followed by planned neck dissection (PND). Our objectives were to clarify the pathologically complete response (CR) rate of neck metastasis after weekly docetaxel radiotherapy, to identify the clinical predictor of residual neck disease, and to determine the mobidity of planned neck dissection. After chemoradiotherapy, all 12 patients had a complete response at the primary site. We conducted 15 neck dissections. Of these, 6 (40%) had positive nodes. The pathological CR rate of neck metastasis was 58.3%, whereas overall 2-year neck control rate was 91.7%. These findings lend support to the role of PND after chemoradiotherapy in N2-3 neck disease. After chemoradiotherapy, clinical parameters including TN status, feasibility of chemoradiotherapy, largest lymph node size or size reduction in MRI, did not identify patients with residual neck disease. We conducted selective neck dissection (SND) in 80% of patients. SNI) as PND appears to be appropriate in this group of patients because of the low incidence of complications. A further cohort study including the comparison of PND nonenforcement group is necessary to clarify the validity of the addition of PND in weekly docetaxel radiotherapy.     

Neodymium YAG Contact Laser in the Treatment of Cancer of the Mobile Tongue

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a contact neodymium YAG laser for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the mobile tongue in 35 patients. The TNM stage and histologic grade were as follows: T1, n = 20; T2, n = 11; T3, n = 4; and N0, n = 33; N1, n = 2; G1, n = 20; G2, n = 10; and G3, n = 5. The surgical treatment consisted of a hemiglossectomy or resection with adequate margins in 28 cases, and an ipsilateral neck dissection was also performed in 7 patients. Radiotherapy to a mean tumor dose of 62-64 Gy and an elective dose of 50 Gy to the cervical lymph nodes was given to 14 patients. The radiotherapy was preoperative in 12 patients and postoperative in 2. Tongue resection was easily performed using the contact neodymium YAG laser, with a mean operation time of 31 min and intraoperative bleeding varying from negligible to 100 cm 3 . During postoperative follow-up no major complications occurred: cases with minor hemorrhage were easily controlled on the ward and 1 patient had a bleed on the 14th postoperative day necessitating hospitalization. The resection was histologically radical in all cases. During follow-up one patient had a local recurrence (T2N0, G3) and four failed in the neck (T1N0 G2, T1N0 G2, T1N0 G2, T2N0 G2), three of whom were successfully salvaged with a neck dissection and radiotherapy. One patient with osteoradionecrosis was diagnosed and treated curatively. Two patients died of their tongue cancer (T2N0 G3, T2N0 G2), 1 died from a second primary tumor (T2N0 G1) and 2 of intercurrent disease with no evidence of cancer; 30 patients (86%) are still alive with no evidence of disease. The function of the tongue in all patients in this sample was good to satisfactory. The major complaint was xerostomia in the irradiated patients. In conclusion, the contact neodymium YAG laser appears to be suitable for resection of T1-T2 SCCs of the oral tongue. In this limited patient sample T stage or grade did not predict failures in the neck. Biologic predictive markers need to be evaluated.     

Neodymium YAG contact laser in the treatment of cancer of the mobile tongue

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a contact neodymium YAG laser for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the mobile tongue in 35 patients. The TNM stage and histologic grade were as follows: T1, n = 20; T2, n = 11; T3, n = 4; and N0, n = 33; N1, n = 2; G1, n = 20; G2, n = 10; and G3, n = 5. The surgical treatment consisted of a hemiglossectomy or resection with adequate margins in 28 cases, and an ipsilateral neck dissection was also performed in 7 patients. Radiotherapy to a mean tumor dose of 62-64 Gy and an elective dose of 50 Gy to the cervical lymph nodes was given to 14 patients. The radiotherapy was preoperative in 12 patients and postoperative in 2. Tongue resection was easily performed using the contact neodymium YAG laser, with a mean operation time of 31 min and intraoperative bleeding varying from negligible to 100 cm3. During postoperative follow-up no major complications occurred: cases with minor hemorrhage were easily controlled on the ward and 1 patient had a bleed on the 14th postoperative day necessitating hospitalization. The resection was histologically radical in all cases. During follow-up one patient had a local recurrence (T2N0, G3) and four failed in the neck (T1N0 G2, T1N0 G2, T1N0 G2, T2N0 G2), three of whom were successfully salvaged with a neck dissection and radiotherapy. One patient with osteoradionecrosis was diagnosed and treated curatively. Two patients died of their tongue cancer (T2N0 G3, T2N0 G2), 1 died from a second primary tumor (T2N0 G1) and 2 of intercurrent disease with no evidence of cancer; 30 patients (86%) are still alive with no evidence of disease. The function of the tongue in all patients in this sample was good to satisfactory. The major complaint was xerostomia in the irradiated patients. In conclusion, the contact neodymium YAG laser appears to be suitable for resection of T1-T2 SCCs of the oral tongue. In this limited patient sample T stage or grade did not predict failures in the neck. Biologic predictive markers need to be evaluated.     

择区性颈清扫术治疗63例下咽鳞状细胞癌的颈淋巴转移

目的 分析下咽鳞状细胞癌(简称鳞癌)患者颈部淋巴转移规律,评价择区性颈清扫术(selective neck dissection,SND)在下咽癌颈淋巴转移治疗中的效果.方法 回顾性分析1990年1月至2004年12月在北京大学第一医院接受颈清扫术的下咽鳞癌患者63例,其中cN0患者17例,cN+46例.单侧SND共计15例;双侧SND共计22例;改良性颈清扫术(modified radical neck dissections,MRND)共计16例;一侧行经典性颈清扫术(radical neck dissections,RND)或MRND,另一侧行SND共计10例.随访48例(76.2%),随访时间范围为24～143个月,随访中位时间为41个月.结果 颈清扫术后发现淋巴结病理阴性(pN0)22例,淋巴结病理阳性(pN+)41例.95侧清扫标本中共发现106枚阳性淋巴结,其在颈部的分布如下:Ⅰ区0%,Ⅱ区47.2%(50/106),Ⅲ区33.0%(35/106),Ⅳ区11.3%(12/106),Ⅴ区2.8%(3/106),Ⅵ区5.7%(6/106).值得注意的是,无论是cNO还是cN+下咽癌患者,对侧颈部都可出现淋巴转移和复发.在随访的48例中,共有18例(21例次)复发.颈清扫术后淋巴结复发主要分布在Ⅱ区和Ⅲ区(19例次).根据Kaplan-Meier方法计算3年生存率,pN0患者为58.1%,pN1患者为44.9%,pN2患者为41.1%.Cox同归分析:N分级是影响预后最重要的因素,pN1的危险比为1.7,pN2的危险比为2.2.结论 淋巴转移是下咽鳞癌最重要的预后因素.恰当的选择双侧SND,可以取得较满意效果,同时减少患者形态和功能的损伤.     

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。     

Prevalence of nodal metastases in the submuscular recess (level IIb) during selective neck dissection

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of nodal metastases in the submuscular recess (SMR) in patients undergoing selective neck dissection (SND) and to identify potential risk factors for the presence of metastatic disease in the SMR. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic tertiary care referral center. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients undergoing SND for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck between January 5, 1998, and November 23, 2001, were prospectively analyzed. Patients with a history of neck dissection or whose pathology reports did not clearly distinguish the SMR from other nodal levels were excluded from the study. INTERVENTIONS: Patients underwent SND based on the primary tumor site and well established regional lymphatic drainage patterns.Main Outcome Measure Presence of histopathologically proven nodal disease in the SMR. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients underwent 90 SNDs, 16 of which were bilateral. The prevalence of metastases in the SMR was 1.6% (1/63) in clinically N0 necks and 11.1% (3/27) in clinically node-positive necks, with an overall incidence of 4.4% (4/90). There was a statistically significant association between SMR metastases and advanced pathologic N stage (P =.003), particularly with positive nodal disease in level IIa (P =.001). Extracapsular tumor spread was also shown to have a statistically significant association with metastases in the SMR (P =.01). No significant associations were observed between SMR metastases and primary tumor site (P =.06), clinical N stage (P =.09), a history of primary tumor recurrence (P =.52), or previous radiation therapy (P =.68). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that nodal metastases in the SMR are rare in head and neck cancer patients undergoing SND.