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Relevance of level I and IIB neck dissection in laryngeal cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2012

S Wiegand ,
J Esters ,
H-H Müller ,
T Jäcker ,
M Roessler ,
J A Fasunla ,
J A Werner  and
A M Sesterhenn
S Wiegand
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Marburg, Germany
J Esters
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Marburg, Germany
H-H Müller
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, Marburg, Germany
T Jäcker
Affiliation:
Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Marburg, Germany
M Roessler
Affiliation:
Institute of Pathology, Giessen and Marburg University Hospital, Marburg, Germany
J A Fasunla
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Marburg, Germany
J A Werner
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Marburg, Germany
A M Sesterhenn*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Marburg, Germany
*
Address for correspondence: Prof Dr Andreas M Sesterhenn, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, UKGM, Marburg Campus, Baldingerstrasse, 35033 Marburg, Germany Fax: +49 6421 5866367 E-mail: sesterhe@med.uni-marburg.de
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Abstract

Objectives:

Dissection of neck levels I and IIB is time-consuming and can cause comorbidity. This study aimed to determine whether level I and IIB neck dissection was necessary in patients with laryngeal cancer and clinically detectable or nondetectable neck nodes.

Patients and methods:

This was a retrospective review of 73 patients with laryngeal cancer. Essential clinical data were obtained and analysed to determine the incidence of neck node metastasis in levels I and IIB.

Results:

Of the 48 patients with no clinically apparent neck nodes, none had level I metastases and only one had level IIB metastases. Of the patients with clinically detectable neck nodes, three of 21 patients had level I metastases and three of 25 patients had level IIB metastases; these six patients also had additional metastases in level IIA.

Conclusion:

Dissection of neck levels I and IIB is justifiable in laryngeal cancer patients with clinically detectable neck nodes and suspicious lymph nodes in the respective level or level IIA. However, in patients without clinically detectable neck nodes, preservation of levels I and IIB is oncologically safe, economical and reduces the risk of comorbidity.

Keywords

LarynxCarcinomaSquamous CellNeck Dissection

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 126 , Issue 8 , August 2012 , pp. 795 - 799
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2012

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