title: Relevance of oropharyngeal cancer lymph node metastases in the submandibular triangle and the posterior triangle apex.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital Giessen & Marburg, Campus Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiegand
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Esters
authors.forename: Hans-Helge
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Timm
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jäcker
authors.forename: Giorgos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papaspyrou
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roessler
authors.forename: Jochen A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Andreas M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sesterhenn
mesh_terms: 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