Abstract
Retrospective analyses were conducted to evaluate the functional and oncologic outcomes of ND preserving CNs for head and neck cancer other than thyroid cancer. A total of 129 neck sides of 88 patients were included in the functional analysis. Sensory preservation rates of earlobe/submandibular/lateral areas of the neck were 75/21/74% respectively in CN preserved sides （85 sides） and 39/2/5% in CN resected sides （44 sides）. Sensory outcomes were significantly better in all the tested areas in CN preserved neck sides （p＜0.05）. A total of 222 patients were included in the analysis of oncologic outcomes. Preservation rates of cervical CNs were 52% （175/335 sides） in all NDs, 80% （114/142 sides） in elective NDs and 32% （61/193 sides） in therapeutic NDs. The 3-year disease-free survival rates were 95% in CN preserved necks and 92% in CN resected necks （p＜0.05）. No adverse effects of preserving CNs were found in this analysis. Preservation of CNs in neck dissection is an effective method to decrease the invasiveness of ND.
