Abstract
We reviewed 58 cases of planned neck dissection after concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The rate of pathological lymph node-positive cases was 36%, and no difference was exhibited due to the primary site or the N stage. The recurrence rate was 39% and largely represented by T recurrence. The overall rate of N recurrence was 10% and since isolated N recurrence was only 3%, this demonstrates the efficacy of cervical control. The three year survival ratio was 81% and no difference was exhibited due to the primary site, the T stage, the N stage or the pN stage. Planned neck dissection was an appropriate therapy in light of the pathological lymph node-positive ratio, the high cervical control rate and survival ratio. A theme for future investigation is to identify the cases in which chemoradiotherapy alone can control the tumor and therefore enable a reduction in unnecessary planned neck dissection.
