Planned neck dissection after definitive radiotherapy or chemoradiation for base of tongue cancers.
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.
Hitchcock
Ying J
YJ
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. ying.hitchcock@hci.utah.edu
Bentz
Brandon G
BG
Sharma
Pramod K
PK
Fang
Christine
C
Tward
Jonathan D
JD
Pappas
Lisa
L
Chen
Jergin
J
Hayes
John K
JK
Shrieve
Dennis C
DC
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
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents