Abstract
Background: Different strategies are available for the management of patients with early (i.e. tumour stage one or two) oral or oropharyngeal carcinoma and a clinically negative neck.
Material and methods: In 2006, a questionnaire was sent to the eight head and neck cancer centres of the Dutch Head and Neck Oncology Cooperative Group. This questionnaire covered: the factors influencing the decision to perform an elective neck dissection; the neck staging procedure; and the types of neck dissection undertaken.
Results: All eight questionnaires were returned completed. Respondents indicated that the site (n = 6), size (n = 7) and thickness (n = 6) of the primary tumour were important in decisions regarding elective neck dissection. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology was the most frequently used diagnostic technique (n = 7). Depending on the site and stage of the primary tumour presented, in the different cases 3-7 of the centres would perform an elective neck dissection. Selective neck dissections (i.e. levels I to III/IV) were more frequently performed than modified radical neck dissections.
Conclusion: There was no uniformity regarding management of the clinically negative neck in patients with early stage oral and oropharyngeal carcinoma, within The Netherlands.
Material and methods: In 2006, a questionnaire was sent to the eight head and neck cancer centres of the Dutch Head and Neck Oncology Cooperative Group. This questionnaire covered: the factors influencing the decision to perform an elective neck dissection; the neck staging procedure; and the types of neck dissection undertaken.
Results: All eight questionnaires were returned completed. Respondents indicated that the site (n = 6), size (n = 7) and thickness (n = 6) of the primary tumour were important in decisions regarding elective neck dissection. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology was the most frequently used diagnostic technique (n = 7). Depending on the site and stage of the primary tumour presented, in the different cases 3-7 of the centres would perform an elective neck dissection. Selective neck dissections (i.e. levels I to III/IV) were more frequently performed than modified radical neck dissections.
Conclusion: There was no uniformity regarding management of the clinically negative neck in patients with early stage oral and oropharyngeal carcinoma, within The Netherlands.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 889-898 |
| Journal | Journal of Laryngology and Otology |
| Volume | 123 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
