Prognostic value of the nodal yield in elective neck dissections in patients with head and neck carcinomas

ConclusionThe nodal yield in elective neck dissections in patients without evidence of lymph node disease (cN0) had prognostic capacity depending on the location of the primary tumor. For tumors located in the larynx, the number of dissected nodes did not significantly influence the prognosis. For tumors located in the oral cavity, oropharynx or hypopharynx, patients with  <  15 dissected nodes had a disease-specific mortality 2.9 times higher than patients with ≥ 15 dissected nodes.
Source: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Category: ENT & OMF Source Type: research