[Elective dissection in cancer of the larynx].
OBJECTIVE
1) To determine if elective neck dissection (END) is more effective than surgery without END in patients with cancer and a clinically negative neck (N0). 2) To determine if selective posterolateral neck dissection is effective in these patients.


METHODS
The study included 74 patients with laryngeal cancer and no palpable nodes who were treated surgically at the ENT Department of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid between 1994 and 1997. Thirty-seven patients underwent surgery alone (Group A) and 37 patients underwent laryngeal surgery and elective neck dissection (Group B). No patient underwent irradiation. Minimum follow-up was 24 months.


RESULTS
Cervical recurrence was observed in 4 (11%) patients who underwent laryngeal surgery alone and in 2 (5%) patients who underwent laryngeal surgery and elective neck dissection.


CONCLUSIONS
Laryngeal surgery with elective neck dissection was more effective than laryngeal surgery without END in patients with laryngeal cancer and a clinically negative neck. Selective lateral neck dissection was effective for the elective treatment of these patients.
Martín Villares
C
C
Departamento Cirugía II-ORL, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Poch Broto
J
J
Ortega Medina
L
L
Iglesias Moreno
M C
MC
González Gimeno
M J
MJ
Olalla Tabar
A
A
D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies