title: Persistent neck disease after chemoradiation for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to identify the incidence of residual viable neck disease in patients with mucosal squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aero-digestive tract, following primary chemoradiation at a tertiary centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review of patients treated with primary chemoradiation for squamous cell carcinoma of the aero-digestive tract between August 2001 and August 2008. Neck status pre- and post-treatment was the primary focus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two patients with node-positive disease prior to chemoradiation were included. Thirty-seven (88.1 per cent) achieved complete response to treatment: no patient in this group underwent neck dissection, five died due to recurrence at the primary site or distant metastasis, and none suffered neck recurrence. Five (11.9 per cent) patients achieved partial response to chemoradiation and underwent neck dissection; viable tumour was found in one patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data support conservative management of the neck in patients with complete response to chemoradiation, and consolidation neck dissection in patients with partial response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wellington Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand. jgsanders@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Jameson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D037981:Neck Dissection; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D016896:Treatment Outcome