Factors influencing outcomes in selective neck dissection in 661 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Selective neck dissection (SND) is the surgical treatment of choice in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) with suspected or manifest metastases in the cervical lymph nodes. For SND to be successful, treated lymph node levels should be selected according to anatomic considerations and the extent of the disease. Aim of this study was to identify neck dissection levels that had an impact on individual prognosis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of SND as part of primary treatment of HNSCC. Overall survival (OS) and regional control rates (RCR) were calculated for all patients treated at one academic tertiary referral center. RESULTS: 661 patients with HNSCC were included, 644 underwent ipsilateral and 319 contralateral SND. Average follow-up was 78.9 ± 106.4 months. 67 (10.1%) patients eventually developed nodal recurrence. Tumor sites were oral cavity (135), oropharynx (179), hypopharynx (118) and larynx (229). Tumor categories pT1–pT4a, and all clinical and pathological nodal categories were included. Multivariate analysis indicated improved OS rates for patients undergoing SND in ipsilateral levels I and V as well as level III contralaterally. Analysis for tumor origin showed that SND in ipsilateral level I showed significantly improved OS in HNSCC of the oral cavity. CONCLUSION: The dissection of ipsilateral level I in oral cavity cancer was of particular relevance in our exploratory, retrospective analysis. To clarify the relevance for the determination of the extent of SND, this should be investigated prospectively in a more homogenous patient cohort.