title: Planned neck dissection after definitive radiotherapy or chemoradiation for base of tongue cancers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study goal was to analyze the role of planned neck dissection for squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue treated with definitive radiotherapy or chemoradiation. STUDY DESIGN, SETTING: We conducted a retrospective study of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue undergoing planned neck dissection after definitive radiotherapy or chemoradiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two of 41 (53.7%) patients had one to six positive residual lymph nodes after receiving definitive radiotherapy or chemoradiation. Neck control rates were 92.3% and 88.3% at two and five years, respectively. Three of 22 (13.6%) patients with pathological residual nodal disease had regional or locoregional failures, compared with 1 of 19 (5.3%) patients with a pathologically complete response (P = 0.39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed a high incidence of pathologically residual lymph nodes after definitive radiotherapy or chemoradiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Planned neck dissection following definitive radiotherapy or chemoradiation is highly effective in achieving regional control of squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. ying.hitchcock@hci.utah.edu
authors.forename: Ying J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hitchcock
authors.forename: Brandon G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Bentz
authors.forename: Pramod K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Tward
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pappas
authors.forename: Jergin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Dennis C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Shrieve
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents