title: Minimum lymph node yield in elective level I-III neck dissection.
abstract: Unlike lymphadenectomy at other sites, there is no discrete lymph node count defining an adequate neck dissection. The purpose of this study was to determine the minimum lymph node yield (LNY) of an elective level I-III neck dissection required to reliably capture any positive nodes present in these nodal basins.
  
  
  
  Retrospective single-institution analysis.
  
  
  
  All patients with the diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who underwent elective level I-III neck dissection between 2004 and 2015 at our institution were analyzed. Preoperatively, patients had no clinical or radiographic evidence of lymphadenopathy. Patients with unknown number of lymph nodes on pathology report were excluded. Age, gender, race, history of radiation, tumor subsite, stage, surgeon, LNY, and number of positive nodes were recorded; bilateral neck dissections were reported separately.
  
  
  
  One hundred eighteen level I-III neck dissections met criteria and were included in the study. Mean LNY was 21.15, and metastatic disease was present in 24.5% of cases, with 8.4% of cases being N2. The highest portion of positive lymph nodes was present in the group with 18 to 24 lymph nodes (36%), which was significantly higher than the group with <18 (14.89%) (P = .044).
  
  
  
  Although there is no accepted minimum for LNY in level I-III neck dissection, at least 18 nodes may be considered an adequate LNY. Such a yield reliably allows for capture of occult disease within these nodal basins.
  
  
  
  4. Laryngoscope, 127:2070-2073, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7324-3260
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Pou
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors.forename: Blair M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors.forename: Claire M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lawlor
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors.forename: Christopher H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Frederick
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.|Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.|Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Christian P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hasney
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
keywords: Lymph node yield; level I-III neck dissection; supraomohyoid