Induction chemotherapy and Planned Neck Dissection after concurrent chemoradiotherapy for oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers

Abstract

We analyzed 10 patients with oropharyngeal cancer and 17 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer who underwent Planned Neck Dissection (PND) after Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) from December 2001 to November 2005. Among patients with a positive surgical specimen, 22% had oropharyngeal cancer and 73% had hypoharyngeal cancer. The pathological status of positive neck specimens was honeycomb keratinized tissue at the center, and viable cancer cells in the peripheral zone. One of three previously clinically negative patients had a positive surgical specimen. It may be difficult to predict surgical outcome after CCRT.