Second radical neck dissection

We report a series of 96 patients (62 men and 34 women) undergoing a second radical neck dissection for enlarged contralateral cervical nodes after primary treatment of a squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, including an ipsilateral radical neck dissection. The proportion of patients requiring a second later neck dissection varied from 0% for tumours of the nasopharynx, nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, to 5% for tumours of the hypopharynx. The incidence of second neck dissection was not determined by the original T stage of the primary tumour, but patients with enlarged nodes at presentation were 5 times more likely to need a second neck dissection than those with no palpable nodes at presentation. Also, patients with a poorly differentiated tumour were twice as likely to need a second neck dissection as those with a well differentiated tumour. The overall 5-year survival after second neck dissection was 35% and the perioperative mortality 1.92%. Significant factors predicting survival after a second neck dissection were the time to recurrence, the clinical neck node status at recurrence, the number of histologically invaded nodes in the neck and the presence of extra-nodal disease.     

Therapeutic selective neck dissection: a 25-year review

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the study was to show the efficacy of selective neck dissection in combination with postoperative radiation therapy in controlling squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to the cervical lymph nodes. The study compared the incidence of recurrences and overall disease-free survival between comparable cohorts undergoing a selective neck dissection and classic radical or modified neck dissection. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, 25-year review was made of data from a tertiary care academic facility comprising both private patients and veterans. METHODS: Inclusion criteria studied patients with untreated head and neck cancer who had squamous carcinoma metastatic to cervical lymph nodes on histological examination and were treated with a selective (n = 61), modified (n = 54), or radical neck dissection (n = 61). The three groups were compared with respect to regional control and overall cancer-free survival. All patients remained cancer free at the primary site, received postoperative radiation therapy, and had a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The median follow-up was 4.3 years. RESULTS: Control of recurrent carcinoma in the neck, as well as the incidence of overall cancer-free survival, was comparable in the three cohorts with no significant statistical difference. Eight of 176 sides of the necks (4.5%) showed evidence of recurrence (2 of 61 [3.3%] in the selective neck dissection group and 6 of 115 [5.2%] in the radical and modified neck dissection group. Disease-free 2-year survival was 80% in the selective neck dissection group and 64% in the radical and modified neck dissection group. CONCLUSION: Selective neck dissection, when used in combination with postoperative radiation therapy, is an efficacious way to manage metastatic squamous cell carcinoma to the neck.     

The irradiated radical neck dissection in squamous carcinoma: a clinico-pathological study

The irradiated radical neck dissection in squamous carcinoma: a clinico-pathological study A preliminary clinico-pathological survey is presented of radical neck dissections from 50 patients with advanced (T3, T4) squamous carcinomas of the head and neck, previously treated by irradiation and combination chemotherapy. The total yield of lymph nodes (1411) from these dissections was high–mean of 28 nodes/dissection, range 8–60; the proportion of nodes containing metastatic carcinoma was low–100 (7%)–with only 1 or 2 nodal masses/dissection in most instances. The involved nodes tended to be concentrated in 1 or 2 anatomical groups, principally in the upper anterior neck, with apparent sparing of nodes in the posterior triangle. There was a high incidence (88%) of transcapsular spread. Keratin granulomas, with or without intact metastatic carcinoma, were commonly found; on occasions they formed large masses simulating nodal metastases. The morphological patterns in uninvolved lymph nodes were shown to be of no prognostic significance. Initial data on postoperative follow-up indicated a crude survival of 52% (24 patients) at 30 months. Most deaths (80%) occurred within 12 months of major surgery; the majority (72%) died with residual malignant disease; and uncontrolled primary rumour, particularly in the oral cavity and oropharynx, was found more frequently than metastatic disease in the neck or elsewhere. Clinical implications are discussed with reference to the use of modified radical neck dissections in the surgical salvage of this poor-risk group of previously irradiated patients.     

Cervical nodal metastases of unknown origin

A study of 48 patients with metastatic carcinoma in the neck from an unknown primary site has revealed several facts. Among patients with squamous cell carcinoma, the three-year survival rate was 40%. Whether treated with surgery (radical neck dissection) or with radical irradiation alone, the response of these tumors was similar in smaller N₁ nodes; when treated with a combined therapeutic approach, they responded well in larger (N₂ and N₃) cervical nodes. Whether or not the primary tumor was found did not affect survival rates; the stage of the presenting nodal metastases did not appear to correlate with survival. A large group of patients with adenocarcinoma metastatic to cervical lymph nodes all died of the disease within two years. All appeared with metastases in the supraclavicular fossa; no modality of treatment to the neck, whether by surgery or irradiation, was effective.     

Neck dissection for non-squamous malignancy

Of 1030 patients who underwent neck dissection (radical, modified or selective) in a 27-year period 103 had malignant neck nodes from a primary site in the head and neck with a histological diagnosis other than squamous carcinoma. There were 71 men and 32 women in this group with a mean age of 55 years. 28 patients had neck dissection as part of their initial treatment and 75 for later nodal recurrence. Five-year survival was 52% (40-63%). Survival was site dependent, best for thyroid tumours and worst for tumours of the major salivary glands (χ2/1 = 6.52, P < 0.05). Histology significantly affected survival, best for papillary tumours and worst for melanoma and undifferentiated tumours (χ2/1 = 3.85, P < 0.05). Survival was worse with advanced N stage but varied little with node level. The number of nodes invaded had a highly significant effect on survival (χ2/1= 23.94, P < 0.001), but extracapsular rupture had no effect. Advanced T stage at the time of surgery had a significant adverse effect on survival using univariate analysis, but this effect disappeared using multivariate analysis. In the 75 patients who had neck dissections for nodal recurrence the presence of a simultaneous recurrence at the primary site had no significant effect on survival. These patients had a better 5-year survival than patients having neck dissection for squamous disease, but the usual predictors of survival in squamous carcinoma do not always apply to non-squamous malignancy. Keywords head and neck cancer non-squamous neck dissection survival     

Neck dissection for non-squamous malignancy.

Of 1030 patients who underwent neck dissection (radical, modified or selective) in a 27-year period 103 had malignant neck nodes from a primary site in the head and neck with a histological diagnosis other than squamous carcinoma. There were 71 men and 32 women in this group with a mean age of 55 years. 28 patients had neck dissection as part of their initial treatment and 75 for later nodal recurrence. Five-year survival was 52% (40-63%). Survival was site dependent, best for thyroid tumours and worst for tumours of the major salivary glands (chi 1(2) = 6.52, P < 0.05). Histology significantly affected survival, best for papillary tumours and worst for melanoma and undifferentiated tumours (chi 1(2) = 3.85, P < 0.05). Survival was worse with advanced N stage but varied little with node level. The number of nodes invaded had a highly significant effect on survival (chi 4(2) = 23.94, P < 0.001), but extracapsular rupture had no effect. Advanced T stage at the time of surgery had a significant adverse effect on survival using univariate analysis, but this effect disappeared using multivariate analysis. In the 75 patients who had neck dissections for nodal recurrence the presence of a simultaneous recurrence at the primary site had no significant effect on survival. These patients had a better 5-year survival than patients having neck dissection for squamous disease, but the usual predictors of survival in squamous carcinoma do not always apply to non-squamous malignancy.     

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.     

The node-negative neck: accuracy of clinical intraoperative lymph node assessment for metastatic disease in head and neck cancer

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Often, the type of neck dissection performed in patients with head and neck malignancy is finally determined by intraoperative assessment of clinically suspect lymph nodes by frozen section. This prospective study aimed to assess the accuracy of clinical intraoperative lymph node assessment and therefore to examine validity of the underlying assumption that the surgeon can consistently identify nodes that contain metastatic tumor. We also aimed to assess whether gross morphological characteristics of the lymph nodes examined could be correlated with nodal status and therefore used to predict those nodes containing metastatic disease. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study assessing the accuracy of clinical intraoperative lymph node assessment in the node-negative neck. METHODS: Forty-six neck dissections from 34 patients with head and neck cancer were prospectively examined intraoperatively by a single surgeon. All obvious nodes were clinically assessed, morphologically described, and subsequently correlated with pathological findings. RESULTS: Sixty palpable nodes were identified in 32 neck dissections. They were clinically categorized as malignant or suspect (22) or benign (38). Pathological examination revealed a false-positive rate of 30% and a false-negative rate of 44%. The sensitivity of intraoperative lymph node assessment was 56%, and the specificity was 70%. Apart from "infiltration," morphological characteristics could not be correlated with nodal status. In the 14 neck dissections with no obviously palpable lymph nodes, 4 (29%) were positive for metastatic disease. CONCLUSIONS: In the node-negative neck, intraoperative assessment does not seem to improve the accuracy of staging. The only parameter of benefit and correlating with metastatic disease is clinical evidence of infiltration. The assumption that frozen section is a good determinate for selection of type of neck dissection is questionable. If selective neck dissection is not found to be therapeutic, its use leads to over-reliance on other therapeutic treatment such as postoperative radiotherapy, depriving the patient of a potential useful treatment modality in cases of locoregional recurrence.     

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.     

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     

Clinical analysis of cervical metastatis from an unknown primary carcinoma

From 1997 to 2004, 19 cases-18 men and 1 woman-with cervical lymph node metastasis from an unknown primary carcinoma were retrospectively investigated regarding the clinical observation and the treatment outcome. With respect to the histopathological types, 16 cases had squamous cell carcinoma, 2 cases had adenocarcinoma and 1 case had ductal carcinoma. As for the region of lymph node metastasis with maximum size, metastasis located in the upper deep cervical region arrounted for 84%. The presence of primary lesions was comfirmed in 11 cases (3 tonsil, 1 nasopharynx, 1 base of tongue, 2 hypopharynx, 1 esophagus, 1 larynx, 1 gallduct, 1 mammary gland) after the treatment of their metastatic leisions. Tonsillectomy and Blind biopsy were effective for 5 patients. Seventeen patients were treated with neck dissection. Eleven patients with neck dissection underwent radiotherapy. The overall 3-year survival rate as determined by the Kaplan-Meier method was 62%. The 3-year survival rate of the 17 cases whose metastatic leisions were treated with radical neck dissection was 66%. The 3-year survival rate of cases with known primary sites and cases with unknown primary sites after treatment were 55% and 83%, respectively. Radiotherapy with radical neck dissection was thought more effective than radical neck dissection for local and neck control.     

Incidence of metastatic well-differentiated thyroid cancer in cervical lymph nodes

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of clinically positive lateral cervical nodes at presentation and after initial treatment in patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: University-affiliated teaching hospitals. PATIENTS: A total of 508 patients who underwent a thyroidectomy as part of their initial treatment for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma between January 1978 and December 1999. Neck dissections were performed only for clinically palpable cervical nodes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Recurrence in the neck and survival. RESULTS: Forty-four patients (9%) had palpable lateral cervical lymph nodes at the time of surgery. All 31 patients younger than 45 years presenting with palpable positive nodes are alive and free of disease; 4 of 13 patients 45 years or older have died of thyroid cancer. Only 16 (3%) of 464 patients who did not undergo initial neck dissection had recurrence in lateral cervical nodes. Recurrence is more likely when the initial tumor is larger than 4 cm. In 216 patients younger than 45 years, there were 5 (2%) recurrences in lateral cervical nodes; these patients remain alive and free of disease. In 248 patients 45 years or older, there were 11 (4%) with recurrent disease in the lateral neck; 4 of these patients have died of thyroid cancer. CONCLUSIONS: An aggressive approach to detecting and treating occult lateral cervical nodes by techniques such as jugular node sampling, sentinel node biopsy, or image-guided needle biopsy is not necessary in most patients. Attempts to detect and remove occult lateral cervical lymph node metastases might be considered in older patients with large primary tumors.     

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip.

PURPOSE: Most patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip present with early disease and follow a rather indolent clinical course. Determinant 5-year survival rates range from 85% to 95%. This study was undertaken in an attempt to gain insight into the cause of failure in those few patients who develop recurrent disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was completed on patients treated between 1964 and 1990. Patients were staged according to the American Joint Committee. Patients with no palpable adenopathy had either a unilateral or bilateral suprahyoid dissection performed. Patients with palpable adenopathy underwent radical neck dissection. All patients were followed for evidence of recurrent disease. RESULTS: The records of 92 patients treated surgically for squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip were available and complete. Palpable adenopathy was present in 38 patients; however, only 8 of these patients (21%) were histologically positive. Of the 54 patients judged to be free of disease, 3 (5.5%) had histologic evidence of metastasis. Overall, the incidence of cervical metastasis was 12%. CONCLUSION: The incidence of cervical metastasis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lip is low; however, these data suggest that the size of the primary tumor does not correlate closely with predicting the incidence of regional lymph node metastases.     

Tumor above the spinal accessory nerve in papillary thyroid cancer that involves lateral neck nodes: a common occurrence

OBJECTIVE: To describe the nature and extent of lateral neck node metastases from papillary thyroid cancer in relation to presenting physical examination and staging radiologic studies. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary referral cancer center. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients who underwent comprehensive neck dissection with or without concurrent thyroidectomy for well-differentiated thyroid cancer between 1991 and 2001. Excluded were patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer diagnosed incidentally at the time of treatment of other primary head and neck cancer, those with previous neck dissection for nonthyroid malignancies, and those undergoing surgery for medullary thyroid cancer. INTERVENTIONS: All pathology and operative and preoperative radiology reports for patients undergoing comprehensive neck dissection for well-differentiated thyroid malignancy were reviewed. Data were collected on previous procedures, preoperative evaluation, operative details, and pathologic findings. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Identification of metastatic thyroid cancer in one or more nodes in anatomically defined drainage basins of the central and lateral neck. RESULTS: A total of 51 neck dissections were performed. All patients had preoperative evidence of metastatic disease. In addition to the usual comprehensive node dissection encompassing all lymphatic tissue in levels II through V, level I nodes and level II nodes above the spinal accessory nerve were labeled as distinct regions in 16 (31%) and 34 (67%) specimens, respectively. Disease was confined to a single nodal level in 20 (39%) of 51 specimens and was present in 4 or more levels in 7 (14%) of 50 neck dissections. There was cancer at 2 or 3 levels in 16 (31%) and 15 (29%) cases, respectively. Seven (21%) of the 34 patients undergoing separate analysis of nodes from above the spinal accessory nerve had cancer there. In 3 of the 34 it was the sole disease in level II. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor involvement at multiple nodal levels occurs in most cases when patients have lateral cervical node metastases. "Skip" metastases and cancer above the spinal accessory nerve are common. Neck dissections should include all node stations likely to be involved because selective node excision is likely to leave metastatic disease in situ.     

Neck dissection for advanced lymph node metastasis before definitive radiotherapy for primary carcinoma of the head and neck

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of neck dissection for advanced metastasis and subsequent planned radiotherapy to the neck and primary tumor. STUDY DESIGN: Single-center, retrospective case series. METHODS: From 1988 to 1998, 37 previously untreated patients were included into the study protocol. Two had a single tumor-positive neck node and the remaining 35 had multiple tumor-positive neck nodes (mean number, 6.0). Extranodal spread was reported in 35 cases (95%); mean nodal size was 5.7 cm (SD, 2.4 cm). Five patients (14%) were not irradiated or were irradiated with palliative intention. Of the remaining patients, 30 received irradiation of 60 Gy or more to the neck and the primary tumor (mean dose, 66.9 Gy; SD, 4.2 Gy). Cumulative survival distributions were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences between groups were analyzed with the log-rank test. RESULTS: Treatment-related mortality was observed in three patients (8%). Disease-specific survival was 49% at 2 years and the overall locoregional control rate was 43% at 2 years. Patients with T1 to T2 primary lesions were compared with those with advanced primary disease, and the 2-year local control rates were 76% and 47%, respectively (P = .056). The following prognostic factors were identified for distant metastasis: three or more positive nodes (P = .037), positive surgical margins in the neck dissection specimen (P = .004), and time from diagnosis until neck dissection of 23 days or more (P = .043). The influence of distant metastasis on disease-specific survival was evident (P = .0003). CONCLUSION: Patients with low-T-stage tumors have a better local control rate with this regimen and survival depends on the status of the neck.     

Results of ionizing radiation treatment of 2274 epidermoid epitheliomas of the lips

In preparation for the 18th meeting of the European Curietherapy Group, devoted to cancer of the lip, 2 363 cases of lip cancer from 23 European Hospitals were retrospectively analysed. After presentation of these results, several free communications, and a large interdisciplinary panel discussion, a consensus was reached for the management of the primary tumor and the regional lymph nodes. Interstitial implant with iridium 192 wires results in a local recurrence rate which does not excede 3,4%. This method may be considered the treatment of choice for T1 and T2 tumors and many T3 tumors. On the other hand surgery should be used for in situ tumors and very large deeply infiltrating tumors. As the 2% failure rate after routine prophylactic neck dissection does not significantly differ from the 3% failure rate when patients undergo neck dissection only if clinically positive neck nodes develop, patients with T1, T2 tumors and no palpable neck nodes, who can be expected to submit to regular follow-up examination, may be managed conservatively. Patients with clinically positive neck nodes should undergo a neck dissection followed by radiationtherapy.     

External Beam Radiation Followed by Planned Neck Dissection and Brachytherapy for Base of Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background Surgical resection of tongue base cancer can leave the patient with significant functional deficits. Other therapies, such as external beam radiation followed by neck dissection and radiation implants, have shown equal tumor control with good functional outcome. Methods Between March 1991 and July 1999, 12 patients at Oregon Health Sciences University, the Portland Veterans Administration Medical Center and West Virginia University School of Medicine Hospital were treated with external beam radiation followed by neck dissection and Ir¹⁹² implants. Two patients had T1 disease, two had T2, five patients had T3 tumors, and three had T4 tumors. Six had N2a necks, three had N2b necks, and three had N2c. Follow‐up ranged from 13 months to 8 years. Results After external beam radiation, five patients had complete response and seven had partial response in the neck without complications. One patient underwent a unilateral radical neck dissection, eight had unilateral selective neck dissections involving levels I to IV, and three had dissections involving levels I to III. One of the five patients who had a complete clinical response in the neck had pathologically positive nodes. One patient had a pulmonary embolus that was treated and had no permanent sequelae. There were three complications from brachytherapy. Two patients had soft tissue necrosis at the primary site and one patient had radionecrosis of the mandible. All healed without further therapy. One patient had persistent disease and underwent a partial glossectomy but died of local disease. Distant metastasis developed in two patients. All others show no evidence of disease and are able to eat a normal diet by mouth. Conclusion This combination of therapies should be considered when treating tongue base cancer.     

Strategy of neck dissection in parotid cancer

We conducted definitive surgery on 45 patients with untreated primary parotid cancer from 1975 to 1995, and evaluated methods of neck dissection and results of treatment. All 14 with clinical neck lymph node metastasis underwent ipsilateral radical neck dissection and only 1 developed neck lymph node recurrence at the peripheral dissected site. Of 31 patients without clinical neck lymph node metastasis, 27 of 19 of 36 with high-grade malignancy and 12 of 24 with T3 or T4 did not undergo prophylactic neck dissection and developed latent neck lymph node metastasis in 2 cases (7.4%). Whereas in most cases we achieved good control of the primary site but neck lymph node recurrences occurred, recurrent sites were observed all around the ipsilateral neck and prognosis were very poor if neck dissection was conducted as secondary treatment. Although histopathological diagnosis was considered feasible for predicting occult neck lymph node metastasis, correct diagnostic with fine needle aspiration cytology revealed only 21.8%. Pathological positive lymph nodes in 15 patients who underwent neck dissection were detected all over (level I to V) the ipsilateral neck and the recurrent positive rate at level II was 100%. Based on the above results, we conclude that (1) in cases with neck lymph node metastasis in preoperative evaluation, ipsilateral radical neck dissection is mandated, and (2) in cases without neck lymph node metastasis, prophylactic neck dissection is not usually needed. When pathological results of frozen section from intraoperative jugulodigastric nodal sampling are positive, ipsilateral radical neck dissection is mandated.     

The role of total parotidectomy in high-grade parotid malignancy: A multisurgeon retrospective review

PurposeDetermine rates of intra-parotid and neck nodal metastasis, identify risk factors for recurrence, and report outcomes in patients with primary high-grade parotid malignancy who undergo total parotidectomy and neck dissection.Materials & methodsRetrospective review of patients undergoing total parotidectomy and neck dissection for high-grade parotid malignancy between 2005 and 2015. The presence and number of parotid lymph nodes, superficial and deep, as well as cervical lymph nodes involved with metastatic disease were assessed. Risk factors associated with metastatic spread to the parotid deep lobe were identified and recurrence rates reported.Results75 patients with median follow-up time of 47 months. 35 patients (46.7%) had parotid lymph node metastasis. Seven patients (9.3%) had deep lobe nodal metastasis without metastasis to the superficial lobe nodes. Nine patients (12%) had positive intra-parotid nodes without positive cervical nodes. Cervical nodal disease was identified in 49.3% patients (37/75). Local, parotid-bed recurrence rate was 5.3% (4/75). Regional lymph node recurrence rate was also 5.3% (4/75). Rate of distant metastasis was 30.6% (23/75). The overall disease free survival rate for all patients at 2 and 5 years were 71% and 60% respectively.ConclusionParotid lymph node metastasis occurred at a similar rate to cervical lymph node metastasis (46.7% and 49.3%, respectively). Deep lobe parotid nodal metastasis occurred in nearly a quarter of patients and can occur without superficial parotid nodal metastasis. Rate of recurrence in the parotid bed, which may represent local or regional recurrence, was similar to regional cervical lymph node recurrence. Total parotidectomy and neck dissection should be considered high-grade parotid malignancy regardless of clinical nodal status.