Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026
Modified Radical Neck Dissection for Cervical Metastasis
Published on: February 20, 2026
Role of neck dissection following concurrent chemoradiation for advanced head and neck carcinoma
Véronique-Isabelle Forest1, Phuc Félix Nguyen-Tan, Jean-Claude Tabet
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de l'Université de Montréal, Pavillon B-Hôpital Notre-Dame, 1560, Sherbrooke East, Montreal, PQ, Canada H2L 4M1.
Background:
Our primary objective was to determine the role of neck dissection following concomitant chemoradiation (CRT) for advanced stage III-IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
Methods:
One hundred eighty-four patients with HNSCC treated with CRT were included. One hundred twenty-three patients reached a regional complete response (CR) after CRT and no neck dissection was performed. Forty-five patients among the 58 who reached a regional partial response (PR) underwent a neck dissection.
Results:
Overall, regional CR rate after CRT was 68%. Patients who reached a regional CR (no neck dissection) had an overall neck recurrence rate of 5%. Patients with regional PR who underwent a neck dissection had a 7% neck recurrence rate.
Conclusions:
Patients with regional CR not followed by a neck dissection have a low rate of neck recurrence. Systematic neck dissection is not mandatory for patients with nodes less than 6 cm reaching a regional CR. For patients with nodes larger than 6 cm, no firm recommendation can be given because of the small number of patients in this series. If the regional response is incomplete, cervical dissection is warranted.
