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Planned postradiotherapy bilateral neck dissection for head and neck cancer
J D Somerset1, W M Mendenhall, R J Amdur
1Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Purpose:
This is a retrospective analysis of 50 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck treated with radiotherapy (RT) to the primary site and bilateral neck followed by a planned bilateral neck dissection approximately 4 to 6 weeks after completion of RT.
Patients And Methods:
Between November 1964 and March 1997, 50 patients underwent bilateral neck dissections after RT, with minimum 2-year follow-up. Forty-eight patients had bilateral positive neck nodes.
Results:
At 5 years, the rates of neck disease control, local-regional control, and cause-specific survival were 76%, 70%, and 39%, respectively. Five severe complications developed after surgery, and 1 developed after RT.
Conclusions:
Radiotherapy followed by a planned bilateral neck dissection resulted in a high rate of local-regional control with acceptable morbidity. The likelihood of severe complications after simultaneous (as opposed to staged) neck dissection was not significantly different (P =.24).
