title: Management of the node-positive neck in oral cancer.
abstract: Surgery continues to play a prominent role in the management of patients with loco-regionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. Most evidence supports the use of comprehensive neck dissection for node-positive disease and suggests that planned neck dissection following definitive radiation therapy and chemoradiation therapy is unnecessary in the great majority of patients with node-positive neck disease who exhibit a complete response. Evidence for less aggressive therapy is much less compelling in patients with bulky adenopathy. For such patients, there is growing enthusiasm for selective or even super-selective neck dissection for surgical salvage. Finally, when cervical disease is so advanced as to involve the carotid artery, evidence continues to portend a dismal prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service, Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center, 2801 N. Gantenbein Avenue, Portland, OR 97227, USA.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikolarakos
authors.forename: R Bryan
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery*; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant