Abstract
Forty-three patients with head and neck carcinomas underwent neck dissections at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of the Ryukyus Faculty of Medicine between January 1986 and September 1988. The stage of the disease was estimated clinically and compared to that derived from histological study of neck specimens. The clinical estimate of the disease stage was accurate in 53.5% of the cases. The stage of the disease was underestimated clinically in 34.9% and overestimated in 11.6% when compared to histological determination. The disease recurred more often in patients with more lymph node involvement and greater extension of pathological metastasis. Postoperative complications occurred in 12 paitents. Mediastinitis was determined to be the cause of death in one patient. Accurate operative technique is considered important in reducing recurrence and preventing postoperative complications in carcinoma of the head and neck.
