The irradiated radical neck dissection in squamous carcinoma: a clinico-pathological study

A preliminary clinico-pathological survey is presented of radical neck dissections from 50 patients with advanced (T3, T4) squamous carcinomas of the head and neck, previously treated by irradiation and combination chemotherapy. The total yield of lymph nodes (1411) from these dissections was high--mean of 28 nodes/dissection, range 8-60; the proportion of nodes containing metastatic carcinoma was low--100 (7%)--with only 1 or 2 nodal masses/dissection in most instances. The involved nodes tended to be concentrated in 1 or 2 anatomical groups, principally in the upper anterior neck, with apparent sparing of nodes in the posterior triangle. There was a high incidence (88%) of transcapsular spread. Keratin granulomas, with or without intact metastatic carcinoma, were commonly found; on occasions they formed large masses simulating nodal metastases. The morphological patterns in uninvolved lymph nodes were shown to be of no prognostic significance. Initial data on postoperative follow-up indicated a crude survival of 52% (24 patients) at 30 months. Most deaths (80%) occurred within 12 months of major surgery; the majority (72%) died with residual malignant disease; and uncontrolled primary tumour, particularly in the oral cavity and oropharynx, was found more frequently than metastatic disease in the neck or elsewhere. Clinical implications are discussed with reference to the use of modified radical neck dissection in the surgical salvage of this poor-risk group of previously irradiated patients.