Relevance of oropharyngeal cancer lymph node metastases in the submandibular triangle and the posterior triangle apex.
BACKGROUND
Neck dissection of levels I and IIB is time consuming and can cause several comorbidities. The aim was to analyze whether levels I and IIB need to be dissected in patients with oropharyngeal cancer and clinical N0 or N+ neck.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of 77 patients with oropharyngeal cancer was carried out with evaluation of the incidence of neck node metastasis in levels I and IIB.


RESULTS
None of the patients with cN0 neck had metastases in level I or IIB; 12.8% of the patients with cN+ neck had metastases in level I, 35.1% in level IIA and 25.6% had metastases in level IIB.


CONCLUSIONS
Levels I and IIB should be dissected in cN+ neck in order to achieve maximal oncological safety. The preservation of levels I and IIB in cN0 neck seems to be justified in terms of improving functional results and concomitant reduction of operation time.
Wiegand
Susanne
S
Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital Giessen & Marburg, Campus Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Esters
Judith
J
Müller
Hans-Helge
HH
Jäcker
Timm
T
Papaspyrou
Giorgos
G
Roessler
Marion
M
Werner
Jochen A
JA
Sesterhenn
Andreas M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies