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Extent of salvage neck dissection for residual or recurrent cervical nodal disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2024

Johannes See Yi Xian Open the ORCID record for Johannes See Yi Xian [Opens in a new window] ,
Alison E Lim Open the ORCID record for Alison E Lim [Opens in a new window]  and
Jenny Montgomery Open the ORCID record for Jenny Montgomery [Opens in a new window]
Johannes See Yi Xian*
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Alison E Lim
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Jenny Montgomery
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
*
Corresponding author: Johannes See Yi Xian; Email: johannes.seeyixian@nhs.scot
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Abstract

Objectives

Salvage neck dissection for squamous cell carcinoma is performed for residual or recurrent nodal disease after chemoradiotherapy or radical radiotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer. Our study aims to investigate the extent to which salvage neck dissection can be safely performed in treating recurrent or residual nodal metastasis.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 53 patients with suspected residual or recurrent nodal disease after primary treatment (January 2016 to December 2018) was performed.

Results

Pathological confirmation of viable squamous cell carcinoma following surgery was found in 43.4 per cent of patients. Post-operative infection, accessory and vagal nerve injuries were more common in patients with dissection of levels I–V than that of levels II–IV. There was no significant difference in three-year survival rate between patients with levels II–IV dissection and that of levels I–V dissection (p = 0.84).

Conclusion

The extent of salvage neck dissection can be limited to reduce post-operative complications while maintaining acceptable oncological outcomes.

Keywords

head and neck cancerneck lumpchemo-radiotherapyradiotherapyoropharyngeal neoplasm

Information

Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 139 , Issue 2 , February 2025 , pp. 141 - 145
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

Johannes See Yi Xian takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

Presented as a poster at BACO International 2023, 15-17 February 2023, Birmingham, UK.

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