title: Histologic evaluation of neck dissection specimens.
abstract: Histologic evaluations of neck dissection specimens from carcinomas of the head and neck provide information required for disease staging, planning further treatment, and prognosis. Histologic evaluation performed adequately and accurately can and continues to provide a more accurate, meaningful, and promising means of formulating and predicting prognosis including risk of metastases. A multi-institutional study using comprehensive standardized histologic evaluation of histopathologic variables of primary tumor and cervical lymph nodes among homogenous patient groups receiving similar therapy is important. Histopathologic parameters remain an important adjunct parameter to clinical evaluation in guiding, planning treatment, and predicting prognosis for patients with head and neck cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City 73190, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gillies
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Luna
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D005544:Forecasting; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D009333:Neck; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors