Selective Neck Dissection for Node-Positive Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Syed Salman Hashmi1, Akbar Abbas2, Amna Bukhari3
1ENT Department, Peterborough City Hospital, Northwest Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, Peterborough, England.
International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology
|November 21, 2022
Summary
Selective neck dissection for oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) shows similar regional control and disease-specific survival in both node-negative and node-positive patients. This finding supports its use in managing palpable neck disease in oral SCC.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Head and Neck Surgery
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Selective neck dissection is standard for node-negative oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs).
- The optimal extent of neck dissection for node-positive oral SCC remains debated.
- Comprehensive neck dissection is often considered the minimum treatment for palpable neck disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare regional control and disease-specific survival in patients with clinically node-positive versus node-negative oral SCC undergoing selective neck dissection.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 111 patients with biopsy-proven oral and lip SCC.
- Patients underwent selective neck dissection between April 2006 and July 2015.
- Comparison of outcomes between clinically node-negative (n=71) and node-positive (n=40) groups.
Main Results:
- Overall regional control rates were 95% for node-negative and 96% for node-positive groups (p=0.589).
- Disease-specific survival was 84.5% for node-negative and 82.5% for node-positive groups (p=0.703).
- Mean follow-up was 16.62 months (SD: 17.03).
Conclusions:
- Selective neck dissection demonstrates comparable regional control rates in node-positive and node-negative oral SCC.
- There is no significant difference in disease-specific survival between node-positive and node-negative oral SCC patients treated with selective neck dissection.
