Level IIb lymph node metastasis in thyroid papillary carcinoma

The objective of the study was to evaluate the incidence of level IIb lymph node metastases in neck dissections for thyroid papillary carcinoma (TPC) patients. 47 neck dissections of 33 patients with TPC were prospectively evaluated. Selective neck dissections (levels II, III, IV, and V) were performed in all cases. If level I lymph node metastasis was suspected during the procedure, level I dissection was also performed. All level IIb specimens were sent separately from the remainder of the neck dissection for the pathological examination. The number of dissected and metastatic lymph nodes in each specimen was recorded. Twenty-two of 47 neck dissections (46.8%) were positive for the lymph node metastasis. Among 47 neck dissection specimens, the incidence of lymph node metastasis at level II was 12.7% (6 of 47) and level IIb was 2.1% (1 of 47). The rate of level IIb lymph node involvement among patients with metastatic cervical lymph nodes was 4.5% (1 of 22). The specimen with metastatic lymph node at level IIb had also metastasis at levels IIa, III, IV, and V. The results of the present study suggested that lymph node metastases in level IIb are rare in patients with TPC undergoing neck dissection.     

影像学评估结合纳米碳在甲状腺癌淋巴结处理中的作用

目的：探讨术前影像学评估结合术中应用纳米碳在甲状腺癌淋巴结处理中的作用。方法：收集81例初治的甲状腺癌患者的临床资料,分为实验组（42例）和对照组（39例）。根据术前彩超结合增强CT评估及病理检查结果,分别行中央区清扫及择区性Ⅲ、Ⅳ区清扫或侧颈区清扫。实验组在甲状腺注入纳米碳,分别计数3种清扫方式的淋巴结总数、转移数、黑染数及黑染转移数,对照组分别计数3种清扫方式的淋巴结总数、转移数;检查2组甲状腺及中央区清扫标本中有无甲状旁腺。结果：实验组中央区及Ⅲ、Ⅳ区和侧颈区清扫标本淋巴结黑染率分别为80.0%、54.9%及39.1%。在中央区清扫标本中,对照组、实验组平均每侧检出的淋巴结数为（3.03±2.07）枚、（4.72±2.97）枚,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）;在Ⅲ、Ⅳ区清扫标本中,对照组、实验组平均每侧检出的淋巴结数为（5.53±3.78）枚、（10.29±3.36）枚,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）;在侧颈区清扫标本中,对照组、实验组平均每侧检出的淋巴结数为（13.40±9.67）枚、（14.56±6.28）枚,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。3种清扫方式平均每侧检出的转移淋巴结数实验组和对照组比较均差异无统计学意义（均P〉0.05）。实验组68侧甲状腺或中央区清扫标本中有3侧检出甲状旁腺,对照组60侧甲状腺或中央区清扫标本中有9侧检出甲状旁腺,2组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论：纳米碳在中央区清扫及侧颈区cN0者行择区性Ⅲ、Ⅳ区清扫时可以较好地标记淋巴结,提高了淋巴结检出率;侧颈区cN＋者,纳米碳没有提高淋巴结的检出率。纳米碳在甲状腺腺叶切除及中央区清扫时可以有效区别和保护甲状旁腺。     

Combined surgery and postoperative irradiation in the treatment of cervical lymph nodes

One hundred seventy-three patients with squamous carcinomas of the laryngopharynx, oral cavity, and oropharynx received planned, combined resection of the primary neoplasm and radical neck dissection (when N1, N2, or N3 lymphadenopathy was present) followed by megavoltage irradiation to the primary sites and bilateral cervical regions between 1975 and 1982. Radical neck dissections were performed in all patients with N2 and N3 cervical lymphadenopathy, in 90% of those with N1 necks, but in only 4% whose necks were staged NO. Neck failures occurred in 10%, 22%, 19%, and 38% of patients with stages N0, N1, N2, and N3 necks, respectively. The most ominous pathologic feature was soft-tissue extension in the radical neck dissection specimen. Initially clinically benign contralateral lymph nodes became involved in only 9% of these patients.     

甲状腺乳头状癌临床NO患者颈部淋巴结转移规律

目的 探讨甲状腺乳头状癌临床NO( clinical NO,cN0)患者颈部淋巴结转移规律和外科处理方式.方法 前瞻性研究2007年8月至2010年9月51例甲状腺乳头状癌cNO患者.术前采用核素法和染料法定位前哨淋巴结,并行术中冰冻病理检查,与术后颈清扫标本常规病理进行对照.记录51例患者53侧颈部淋巴结清扫转移淋巴结的数量及在Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ区的分布情况.研究患者年龄、肿瘤多中心病灶、被膜外侵、肿瘤大小、中央区淋巴转移数目与颈侧区淋巴转移的关系,影响颈侧区淋巴转移率单因素差异比较采用x2检验,Logistic模型进行多因素分析.结果 颈部淋巴结隐匿性转移率77.4％ (41/53),颈侧隐匿性转移率58.5％(31/53),中央区淋巴转移≥3枚是颈侧区淋巴转移的独立危险因素.pNO 12侧,pN+41侧,17侧仅有1个分区转移,占pN+的41.5％( 17/41);2个或2个以上分区转移24侧,占pN+的58.5％( 24/41).转移淋巴结分布以Ⅵ区最常见,为62.3％(33/53),其次为Ⅲ区52.8％(28/53),Ⅳ区30.2％(16/53),Ⅱ区18.9％(10/53),Ⅴ区0％ (0/53).结论 甲状腺乳头状癌cNO患者隐匿性淋巴结转移以多区转移为主,Ⅵ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅱ区常见.中央区淋巴转移≥3枚较易出现颈侧淋巴转移,对cNO患者选择性清扫Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅵ区能清除大部分存在的颈部隐匿性转移淋巴结.     

Regional metastatic pattern of papillary thyroid carcinoma

The objective of the present study was to determine the pattern of lymphatic spread in papillary thyroid carcinoma with clinically positive nodes. Between 1999 and 2008, a total of 48 consecutive patients with clinical evidence of cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma underwent 61 modified radical neck dissections (13 being bilateral) including levels II–VI. All neck dissection specimens were separated during surgery into levels and analysis was done with respect to the levels of neck. T value of tumor and demographic parameters were compared with the number of metastatic nodes with univariate analysis. The median number of pathologic nodes in neck dissection specimen was 7.0. The predominant site of metastasis was level VI (77%), followed by level III (69%), level IV (66%), and level II (46%). Level V showed 34% of nodal metastasis. Seven patients had level VII, and five patients had parapharyngeal lymph node dissections because of lymphatic involvement at these sites. There was no statistically significant correlation between T value, age, sex and the number of histologically positive lymph nodes (P = 0.39, P = 0.91 and P = 0.84, respectively). It was concluded that the high incidence of metastatic disease in levels II through VI supports the recommendation for level II through level VI neck dissection in patient with clinically positive neck disease.     

Endoscopic neck dissection in an animal model: comparison of nodal yield with open-neck dissection

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possibility, complications, and efficacy of endoscopic neck dissection (END) in a porcine model. DESIGN: Experimental self-controlled study. SUBJECTS: Minipigs. INTERVENTION: Endoscopic neck dissection was performed using general anesthesia with techniques adapted from laparoscopic surgery. The tissue specimens removed were divided according to porcine equivalents of human neck groups. After the completion of END, open-neck dissection was performed using standard surgical techniques, and the remaining tissue within each neck group was retrieved. A pathologist evaluated each specimen without knowing its exact origin in terms of neck group or side and the type of surgical technique used. For each specimen, the number of retrieved lymph nodes and their anatomical integrity were analyzed. RESULTS: Ten neck dissections were performed in 8 minipigs without any major complications. The number of retrieved lymph nodes by END was 18.4 +/- 7.4 (mean +/- SD). Completed open-neck dissection retrieved an additional 3.3 +/- 1.8 lymph nodes. The efficacy rate of END was 88% +/- 10% (+/ -SD). The majority of retrieved lymph nodes were intact, with less than 5% of nodes exhibiting crushing artifacts. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic neck dissection in a porcine model seems to be free of major complications and able to retrieve the majority of neck lymph nodes. A larger number of animals and their survival need to be studied before human studies can begin.     

A clinical study of ultrasonography for lymph node metastases in head and neck cancer

Ultrasonography (US) is very useful in evaluating cervical lymph node swelling in head and neck cancers. We studied problems with US in evaluating lymph nodes. Cervical lymph nodes were removed by radical neck dissection or modified radical neck dissection from 79 patients with squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck. We studied the correlation between preoperative US findings and the histopathological features. Preoperative lymph nodes were measured three-dimensionally. We diagnosed lymph nodes as metastases when they meet two criteria: One is the shortest diameter exceeding 7 mm in level I and II and 6 mm in level III, IV and V. The other is shortest to longest diameter ratio exceeding 0.5. A total of 2004 lymph nodes were removed by neck dissection, and 199 lymph nodes were diagnosed histopathologically as metastases. Of the 199 metastatic lymph nodes, 93 (46%) were diagnosed as metastases by preoperative US findings and 33 (17%) were false negative. Thirty-six cases were diagnosed preoperatively as N0 by US findings, but 15 of these were pN(+) histopathologically. In the 15 cases, 21 lymph nodes were metastases. Of the 21 metastatic lymph nodes, 10 nodes were not detected by US. Thirty-one cases were diagnosed preoperatively as N1 by US findings, but 20 of these were pN2b histopathologically. In the 20 cases, 66 lymph nodes were metastases. Of the 66 metastatic lymph nodes, 46 were not diagnosed as metastases. They often located distant level from the lymph node diagnosed correctly as a metastasis. US is very useful in evaluating cervical lymph node metastasis, but it has the limitations indicated above. If 1 metastatic lymph node is detected by US, there will be multiple metastatic lymph nodes and sometimes they are distant from the original level. Radical neck dissection should be done for positive lymph nodes detected by US findings. If a lymph node is not clearly a metastasis, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNA) should be done, because it provides more accurate diagnosis for metastatic lymph nodes.     

分化型甲状腺癌的颈淋巴转移规律

目的探讨分化型甲状腺癌颈部淋巴转移的规律及临床阳性淋巴结（cN＋）的颈部治疗模式；评价术前彩超在诊断甲状腺癌颈转移中的作用。方法回顾性分析我院2003年7月-2005年7月诊治93例（113侧）cN＋分化型甲状腺癌患者的临床资料，分为术前颈部淋巴结触诊阳性患者（64侧）和术前颈部触诊阴性，彩超诊断为颈淋巴转移患者（49侧）两组。记录术后颈清扫标本中转移淋巴结的数量及在Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ区的分布。结果93例患者中双侧颈转移占21．5％（20／93），113侧颈清扫标本中92侧（81．4％）为多分区转移；转移淋巴结在颈部的分布以Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅵ区为主，分别为60．2％（68／113）、70．8％（80／113）、61．9％（70／113）、58．4％（66／113）；Ⅴ区较少分布22．1％（25／113），差异有统计学意义（χ^2=64．597，P〈0．001）。颈部触诊阳性患者颈清扫标本中转移淋巴结数量（10．1个），多于颈触诊阴性、彩超检查阳性患者（6．9个）；淋巴转移区域也多于后者（3．18区与2．61区）；术前彩超检查可以发现43．4％（49／113）的颈部触诊漏诊的颈部淋巴转移。结论分化型甲状腺癌的颈部淋巴转移为多分区分布，Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅵ区为主要的转移部位；彩超在甲状腺癌颈淋巴转移的诊断中具有重要的价值；对cN＋的分化型甲状腺癌患者，应进行包括Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ区的改良性颈清扫术。     

Management of extensive cervical nodal metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy: a clinicopathological study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of afterloading brachytherapy following radical neck dissection (RND) in the management of extensive cervical lymph node disease in nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy; and to examine prospectively prognostic factors and the pathologic behavior of neck disease. PATIENTS: Twenty-seven patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who had extensive cervical lymph node metastasis following external radiotherapy were treated with RND. Thirteen of them also underwent afterloading brachytherapy with iridium wire (Ir 192). The RND specimens of the 27 patients were also examined with step serial whole-specimen sectioning. RESULTS: All patients survived and their wounds healed primarily. Pathologic examination revealed 183 tumor-bearing lymph nodes that contained tumors in the neck: level I, 4% (8/183); level II, 53% (96/183); level III, 34% (62/183); level IV, 5% (9/183); and level V, 4% (8/183). Extracapsular tumor extension was seen in 84% of patients. Multivariate analysis identified the number of tumor-bearing lymph nodes detected in the specimens to be the only significant factor that affected control of disease. Although the neck disease in the group of patients who had afterloading brachytherapy was more extensive, the 3-year actuarial tumor control for the groups with and without brachytherapy were 60% and 61%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent cervical lymph nodes after radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma are extensive and RND is mandatory for a successful salvage. When the nodal metastasis infiltrate or adhere to surrounding tissue, afterloading brachytherapy with iridium wire can provide satisfactory local tumor control.     

Extracapsular spread and the perineural extension of squamous cell cancer in the cervical plexus.

Extracapsular spread of squamous cell carcinoma in cervical lymph nodes is associated with approximately 50% decrease in survival and a twofold increase in regional recurrence. This study examines the hypothesis that increased regional recurrence may be, in part, due to unrecognized microscopic perineural invasion of the nerve rootlets of the cervical plexus. Thirty patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with clinically N+ necks undergoing radical neck dissection were prospectively studied. Neck dissection specimens were evaluated for extracapsular spread, and the cervical plexus rootlets were histologically examined for perineural invasion. The incidence of extracapsular spread was 83% (25 of 30 patients). Only one (4%) of 25 had involvement of the cervical plexus, and this patient had gross as well as microscopic cervical plexus invasion. Microscopic perineural spread of squamous cell carcinoma in the cervical plexus occurs infrequently when extracapsular spread is present. Routine histologic evaluation of cervical rootlets for margins is warranted only when gross tumor is in close proximity to the cervical plexus.     

Regional metastases in well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma: pattern of spread

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine the pattern of spread of WDTC to regional lymph nodes, in patients who presented with clinically positive nodes. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 2001 and December 2006, a total of 27 consecutive patients (12 males, 15 females) with clinical evidence of cervical metastasis of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) underwent 28 neck dissections (ND) with a mean follow-up 33.7 months. Papillary carcinoma was found in 24 patients and follicular carcinoma in 3.All neck dissection specimens were separated during surgery into levels, and analysis was done with respect to the levels of the neck.Clinical and demographic parameters were correlated to the pathologic parameters, including number of pathologic nodes, size of tumor, and the patient's age, with univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The mean number of pathologic nodes in ND specimen was 6.7. The predominant site of metastasis was level VI (95%), followed by level III (68%), level IV (57%), and level II (54%). Metastases above the XI nerve were found in 7% of the patients. Level V showed 20% of nodal metastasis. A correlation was found between size of primary tumor and number of positive pathologic lymph nodes (P = .02) and an inverse correlation between the age of the patient and the number of pathologic nodes (P = .043). CONCLUSIONS: The high incidence of metastatic disease in levels II through VI supports the recommendation for posterolateral and anterior ND in patients with WDTC and clinically positive nodes. The correlation between tumor size, the age of the patient, and the number of positive nodes is an interesting finding that warrants further study.     

Level IIb lymph node metastasis in neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To determine the patterns of lateral cervical metastasis and the incidence of level IIb lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma. DESIGN: Retrospective medical record review. SETTING: Academic medicine. PATIENTS: From March 1, 2000, to April 30, 2006, 46 consecutive patients (38 women and 8 men) with papillary thyroid carcinoma. INTERVENTIONS: Patients underwent 55 modified radical neck dissections for the management of lateral cervical metastasis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All patients had preoperative evidence of a metastatic cervical lymph node. All specimens were labeled and mapped by the operating surgeon to identify their levels. RESULTS: Among 55 specimens, 82% (45 specimens) exhibited nodal disease at multiple levels. The incidences of metastases at level II, III, IV, and V nodes were 60% (33 specimens), 82% (45 specimens), 75% (41 specimens), and 20% (11 specimens), respectively. Skip metastases were present at a low rate (6% [3 specimens]). Among 12 specimens (22%) with metastatic lymph nodes at level IIb, 92% (11 specimens) had disease at level IIa. The rate of level IIb lymph node involvement in patients with metastatic lymph nodes at level IIa was 34% (11 of 32). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor involvement at multiple nodal levels usually occurs when patients have lateral cervical lymph node metastasis. Neck dissection should include the level IIb lymph node whenever level IIa lymph node metastasis is found. Level IIb dissection is probably unnecessary when level IIa lymph nodes are uninvolved because the incidence of metastasis to level IIb is low if level IIa is not involved.     

Quantification of lymph nodes in selective neck dissection

OBJECTIVES: Provide reference for surgeon and pathologist regarding expected yield from selective neck dissections. Quantify lymph nodes obtained from cadaver dissection based on current nodal classification and compare with clinical series. STUDY DESIGN: 1. Quantification of lymph nodes at levels I-V harvested from human cadavers and correlation with nodal grouping for supraomohyoid (I-III) and lateral (II-IV) neck dissections. 2. Retrospective review of operative specimens from clinical neck dissections for lymph node quantity. METHODS: 1. Twenty radical neck dissection specimens, harvested from 10 fresh human cadavers without evidence of head and neck cancer, were separated by nodal level for gross and microscopic examination by a pathologist. The quantity of nodes obtained per level for each specimen was tabulated. 2. Charts of patients treated with neck dissection for squamous cell carcinoma were reviewed and tabulated for type of dissection and number of lymph nodes reported. RESULTS: In the 20 cadaver neck dissections, the average number of lymph nodes removed for levels I-V was 24, with 13 for levels I-III and 19 for levels II-IV. In the clinical review, 98 total neck dissections were included. In the six supraomohyoid dissections, an average of 20 lymph nodes (range, 14-26) were found, with an average of 30 (range, 15-43) in the 11 lateral compartment specimens. In 81 radical or modified radical dissections, an average of 31 nodes (range, 19-63) was reported. CONCLUSIONS: The number of lymph nodes removed in selective neck dissection should be comparable to that of the corresponding levels in radical neck dissection, provided that strict adherence to surgical boundaries is maintained. Dissection of normal cadavers provides a reference for the surgeon and the pathologist but may under-represent lymph node quantity in the diseased state.     

喉癌颈淋巴结转移的病理分型和临床意义

为研究喉癌颈淋巴结转移的病理分型及其临床意义，在光镜下观察５５例颈廓清标本的转移淋巴结。显示：单发型２１例（３８．２％），其中９０．０％是潜在性转移，３年生存率为９０．５％；多发型１０例（１８．２％），７０．０％是潜在性转移，术后病理均是Ｎ２，３年生存率是７０．０％；融合型２４例，９２％术前可触到淋巴结，３年生存率是５４．２％。提示喉癌颈淋巴结转移病理上可以分为３型。此种分型具有指导治疗和估计预后     

Value of the supraomohyoid neck dissection with frozen section analysis as a staging procedure in the clinically negative neck in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

Summary A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate with the efficacy of elective supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOND) with frozen section (FS) analysis in 57 newly diagnosed patients (62 SONDs) with squamous cell carinoma of the oral cavity. The protocol included sampling of both the most suspect and largest node in the jugulodigastric region (if present) and the most distal jugulo-omohyoid lymph node (if present). These nodes were then studied with FS histological examination. In the absence of evident nodes for FS analysis during surgery, histological examination uncovered occult metastatic disease in 3 of 11 SOND specimens. Among the remaining patients FS analysis revealed occult metastatic disease in 10 of the 51 samples (19.6%). In these latter cases surgery was continued using standard or modified radical neck dissection en bloc with the primary tumor. In 1 specimen only a single metastasis was found outside the original extent of the SOND. Among 41 FS analysis reports stating the absence of metastatic disease, histological examination of the SOND specimens demonstrated occult nodal disease in 7 (17%). All of the cervical metastases appeared in the ipsilateral side of the neck. False FS reports did not occur. In the histologically proven absence of metastatic disease in the SOND specimens, disease recurrence in the neck occurred only in 3 cases (7%), all in the presence of local failure: once in the previous SOND area, once in the ipsilateral supraclavicular region and once on the contralateral side. The results of our analyses support the conclusion that elective SOND with FS can be a valid staging procedure and a valuable approach to the management of the clinically negative neck in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Offprint requests to: J. J. Manni     

喉癌喉咽癌哨位淋巴结的临床初步研究

目的 探讨喉癌喉咽癌哨位淋巴结的检测及其对颈淋巴结转移的预测价值。方法 用手术中注射蓝染料的方法,对29例颈淋巴结NO的喉癌喉咽癌患者进行了哨位淋巴结的临床研究。手术中取蓝染的哨位淋巴结作快速冰冻病理检查,并与HE染色病理检查结果及颈清扫切除的淋巴结病理检查对照,观察哨位淋巴结转移对颈淋巴结转移癌的预测值。结果 29例中28例成功地显示了哨位淋巴结,成功率达96．6％。每例发现蓝染的哨位淋巴结1－4个,平均每例则检出2．5个。有3例患者的哨位淋巴结检测有肿瘤转移,HE染色病理检查及颈清扫切除的淋巴结病理检查均证实颈淋巴结转移。25例哨位淋巴结冰冻病理检查阴性患者,颈淋巴结清扫标本亦未查见淋巴结转移。哨位淋巴结对颈淋巴结转移的阳性正确率和阴性预测率为100％。结论 哨痊淋巴结检测对喉咽癌的淋巴结转移有重要的预测价值。     

Micrometastases from squamous cell carcinoma in neck dissection specimens

Summary The incidence of micrometastases in cervical lymph nodes from squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck was studied using routine histopathological examination. Micrometastases were found in 66 lymph nodes in 41 of the 92 tumor-positive neck dissection specimens. The detection of these micrometastases influenced postoperative treatment in 3 of the 77 patients with neck node metastases. The value of additional sectioning for detecting micrometastases was thus assessed. Sectioning at a deeper level in 600 originally histopathologically negative lymph nodes from 64 patients revealed 7 additional micrometastases in 5 patients. Antikeratin staining with a mixture of two monoclonal antibodies (AE1 and AE3) revealed 4 micrometastases in 739 originally histopathologically negative lymph nodes in 3 of 13 patients studied. Because of the unknown prognostic significance of micrometastases and the consequent arbitrary consequences for postoperative treatment, present findings show that the extra workload of immunostaining and deeper sectioning does not warrant their routine use in clinical practise.     

Planned postradiotherapy neck dissection: Rationale and clinical outcomes

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we examine pathology results and clinical outcome for patients with locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) who present with advanced neck disease and undergo planned postradiotherapy neck dissection. STUDY DESIGN: Review of all patients with SCCHN treated with primary radiation (or chemoradiation) and postradiotherapy neck dissection at the University of Wisconsin between 1992 to 2005 was performed. One hundred seven neck dissections were identified in 93 patients, 79 unilateral and 14 bilateral. All major treatment and outcome parameters were examined with particular emphasis on the postradiotherapy neck dissection. RESULTS: Thirty of 107 neck dissection specimens (28%) showed evidence of residual carcinoma on pathologic review. The mean number of lymph nodes identified at neck dissection for the entire cohort was 21 per specimen (range, 1-60) with 1.3 nodes per positive neck dissection demonstrating residual carcinoma. No correlation was found between the type of neck dissection performed and the presence of residual nodal disease. Eighty-two evaluated patients (93%) remain free of regional disease recurrence, whereas six patients have subsequently manifested neck recurrence. Four of the six patients who developed regional recurrence showed residual carcinoma in their neck dissection specimen. Five of these patients underwent comprehensive neck dissection (levels I-V); one underwent selective neck dissection (相似文献   

Endoscopic neck dissection in human cadavers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of endoscopic neck dissection (END) in human cadavers. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental self-controlled study. METHODS: END on five human cadavers through three openings: one for the camera, one for the dissecting instrument, and one for a grasping one. The tissue specimens removed were divided into traditional neck groups (I to V). After the completion of END, open neck dissection was performed using standard surgical techniques and the remaining tissue within each neck group was retrieved. The important neck structures (carotid artery, internal jugular vein, cranial nerves X, XI, and XII, phrenic nerve) were evaluated for lesions. A pathologist evaluated each specimen, without knowing its exact origin in terms of neck group or side, and type of surgical technique used. For each specimen, the number of retrieved lymph nodes and their anatomic integrity was analyzed. RESULTS: Ten neck dissections were performed on 5 cadavers, without any major difficulty. An injury of the internal jugular vein occurred twice and once the phrenic nerve was cut. Little tissue was usually left for open surgical dissection. The average number of retrieved lymph nodes by endoscopy was 4.9 +/- 2.7 (mean +/- standard deviation). Completion open neck dissection retrieved an additional 0.5 +/- 0.5 lymph nodes. Efficacy of END was 92 +/- 10%. The majority of retrieved lymph nodes were intact but exhibited important postmortem autolysis artifacts. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic neck dissection is possible in human cadavers and is free of lesions to major structures. The majority of neck lymph nodes can be removed endoscopically.     

Role of lateral neck dissection in cancers of the larynx and hypopharynx with No neck

Radical neck dissection is a standard procedure carried out for the teatment of palpable nodes in the neck but if carried out electively in cases where there are no palpable nodes in the neck it is considered to be an overtreatment with its associated morbity. Lateral neck dissection was carried out on twenty patients who had T31 T4 lesion of the larynx and hypophar-vnx with NO neck. The dissection entails removal of Level II. III and IV nodes. Occult metastasis 80% and 85% respectively. The mean follow up was 13 monts. It appears from our study that elective lateral neck dissection is a promising and safe procedure and may be useful as an important prognostic tool in sampling the lymph nodes and predicting recurrences in the neck.