Evaluation of neck dissection with frozen section biopsy - Management of levels IV and V.

INTRODUCTION: Neck dissection is an essential component of oral cancer therapy. Based on a standardised approach to cervical lymph node management, we seek to define the relevance of neck dissection extension in cN + cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis from January 2009 to February 2017 identified 84 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma with a cN + neck or histologically proven lymph node involvement in intraoperative frozen sectioning and who received modified radical neck dissection according to the presented neck dissection algorithm. RESULTS: Overall 11 patients showed lymph node metastasis level IV or V, whereas 19 developed disease recurrence, of which 5 cases were neck recurrences. A total of 30 patients died within the time of observance (overall survival of n = 54). None of those patients with pN + status in levels IV and V reached a 5-year survival. DISCUSSION: With a look to the possibility of a 5-year survival in patients with a N+ status in level IV and V, the justification for a radical approach to the neck appears questionable. However, modified radical neck dissection appears to be a suitable for a high-risk oral cancer subgroup. A randomised controlled trial is needed to define guidelines for the neck dissection extent in c/pN + cases.

Lymph node management in the treatment of oral cancer: Analysis of a standardized approach.

INTRODUCTION: A supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOHND) is part of the surgical management of patients with oral cancer, even in the absence of clinical or radiographic evidence of neck disease. We have investigated a standardized approach to the management of cervical lymph nodes, in patients with a primary oral cancer. A modified surgical technique has been presented and a clinical algorithm has been described and evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SOHND was performed either uni- or bi-laterally. In cases of positive nodes in levels II or III, the dissection was extended in terms of a modified radical neck dissection (MRND) and a SOHND was performed contralaterally. RESULTS: 112 patients were included. 42% had lymph node metastases in any level. Overall, lymph node metastases were found in 2.8% of all examined nodes. Most metastases (34.6%) occurred in level Ib. 12.6% were located in level IIb. No metastases could be detected in levels IV and V. No statistically significant difference could be shown with regard to T-stage, location, or co-factors as gender and age. DISCUSSION: SOHND is the gold-standard in patients with no preoperative evidence of lymph node metastases. The presented algorithm is able to facilitate dissection and histological analysis and might improve the surgical care in current treatment concepts. The extension to an MRND facilitates the identification of patients in need of adjuvant therapy.