title: Evaluating the significance of level IIb neck dissection for hypopharyngeal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated cervical lymph node metastases at level IIb in cases of hypopharyngeal cancer and analyzed the possibility of preservation of level IIb during neck dissection.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 34 patients (51 neck sides) with hypopharyngeal cancer that underwent neck dissection from April 2008 to April 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. We evaluated the distribution of metastatic lymph nodes at various levels (particularly level IIb) in cases treated with therapeutic neck dissection and elective neck dissection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of metastases in level IIb was 13.3% (4 of 30 patients) for therapeutic neck dissection and 0% (0 of 21 patients) for elective neck dissection. All the level IIb metastases were found on the ipsilateral side in the cases treated with therapeutic neck dissection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that preservation of level IIb during neck dissection was possible in N0 cases of hypopharyngeal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Tokai University, School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okami
authors.forename: Ryousuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ebisumoto
authors.forename: Hikaru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atsumi
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iida
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: hypopharyngeal cancer; laryngeal cancer; level IIb; neck dissection; shoulder syndrome