Neck Dissection of Submandibular and Submental Regions

Abstract

Ultrasonograghy (US) was the most useful examination to evaluate cervical lymphnode metastasis before operation. However, the correct diagnosis of mtastatic lymphnode by US was sometimes difficult since the submandibular region was masked by the mandibule, submandibular gland and inflammatory lymphadenopathy. The presence or absence of cervical metasitasis is an important prognosticator of survival for oral cancer. So the preventive neck dissection was often performed for occult cervical metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx. We usually performed supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOND) for T2NO cases in cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx. Fourteen previously untreated patients with clinically negative necks was performed SOND in T2 tongue cancer. Three (21 %) neck specimens was revealed occult metastatic cancer. In this operation, it is the most important technique to protect the marginal branch of facial nerve, especially in N0 case, so we should learn clinical anatomy of facial nerve.