Selective jugular node dissection in patients with squamous carcinoma of the larynx or pharynx

We reviewed our experience with 66 patients who had 85 jugular node dissections (JND) between 1984 and 1991. When JND was used as a staging procedure in 56 patients with N0 squamous carcinoma of the larynx or hypopharynx, it identified 15 of 19 patients (79%) who had occult metastases. The pattern of neck failure in six patients after JND strongly suggests that the dissection must be carried posterior to the internal jugular vein in order to achieve adequate sampling. Neck failure was a relatively minor problem in this patient population, and the indications for elective JND may be less than compelling in most patients with N0 class laryngeal or pharyngeal squamous carcinomas. Our very limited experience with JND for resection of N1 disease supports a growing consensus that limited lymphadenectomy and aggressive radiotherapy may yield comparable results in carefully selected patients with palpable metastases. Obviously, these are issues that can only be resolved by prospective, randomized studies.