Treating the N0 Neck in early stage oral cancer a pause for re-assessment?

The incidence of metastases following neck dissection in the apparent lymph node negative neck in oral cancer is between 7-33%; early resection of cervical metastases may well increase survival. Modern imaging techniques can reduce the yield of previously undiagnosed metastatic nodes in elective neck dissection (END). An audit of 112 consecutive cases was conducted to determine the proportion of undiagnosed nodal metastases, after END. There were neck metastases in 10 cases (9%), which were mainly (but not all) micrometastic.
Source: The British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Source Type: research