How we do it: a method of neck dissection for histopathological analysis.
BACKGROUND
Dissection of the lymphatic structures in the neck is an integral part of the management of many head and neck cancers. We describe a technique of surgical dissection, preparing the tissue for more precise histological analysis while also reducing operative time and complexity.


METHODS
When dissected, each level is excised between lymph nodes groups and put into a separate pot of formalin taking care to avoid rupture of any obvious pathological nodes.


RESULTS
This makes for a simpler dissection as the surgeon progresses, as a larger more cumbersome specimen is avoided and manipulation of involved nodes is actually reduced with a reduced risk of tumour spillage.


CONCLUSIONS
We feel that our technique provides several advantages for the histopathologist as well as the surgeon. As the dissection of the specimen into the relevant levels has already been performed, time is saved in orientating and then dissecting the specimen. Accuracy of dissection is also improved and each piece of tissue is a more manageable size for processing and analysis.This technique may also have several surgical advantages when compared with the commonly practiced techniques e.g. with reducing in-vivo specimen manipulation, hence reducing the risk of inadvertent injury to important structures and tumour spillage.
Upile
Tahwinder
T
The Ear Institute, University College London, London, UK. mrtupile@yahoo.com
Jerjes
Waseem
W
Nouraei
Seyed Ahmad Reza
SA
Singh
Sandeep
S
Clarke
Peter
P
Rhys-Evans
Peter
P
Hopper
Colin
C
Howard
David
D
Wright
Anthony
A
Sudhoff
Holger
H
Fisher
Cyril
C
Sandison
Ann
A
D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*