Consensus statement on the classification and terminology of neck dissection.
OBJECTIVE
To update the guidelines for neck dissection terminology, as previously recommended by the American Head and Neck Society.


METHODS
Committee for Neck Dissection Classification, American Head and Neck Society; representation from the Committee for Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (T.A.D.).


METHODS
Review of current literature on neck dissection classification.


METHODS
Semiannual face-to-face meetings of the Committee for Neck Dissection Terminology and e-mail correspondence.


CONCLUSIONS
Standardization of terminology for neck dissection is important for communication among clinicians and researchers. New recommendations have been made regarding the following: boundaries between levels I and II and between levels III/IV and VI; terminology of the superior mediastinal nodes; and the method of submitting surgical specimens for pathologic analysis.
Robbins
K Thomas
KT
Division of Otolaryngology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL 62794-9677, USA. trobbins@siumed.edu
Shaha
Ashok R
AR
Medina
Jesus E
JE
Califano
Joseph A
JA
Wolf
Gregory T
GT
Ferlito
Alfio
A
Som
Peter M
PM
Day
Terry A
TA
D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008482:Mediastinum; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000145:classification*; D012015:Reference Standards; D013048:Specimen Handling; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014481:United States