Rational surgical neck management in total laryngectomy for advanced stage laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas

PURPOSE

Controversies exist in regard to surgical neck management in total laryngectomies (TL). International guidelines do not sufficiently discriminate neck sides and sublevels, or minimal neck-dissection nodal yield (NY).

METHODS

Thirty-seven consecutive primary TL cases from 2009 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed in terms of local tumor growth using a previously established imaging scheme, metastatic neck involvement, and NY impact on survival.

RESULTS

There was no case of level IIB involvement on any side. For type A and B tumor midline involvement, no positive contralateral lymph nodes were found. Craniocaudal tumor extension correlated with contralateral neck involvement (OR: 1.098, p = 0.0493) and showed increased involvement when extending 33 mm (p = 0.0134). Using a bilateral NY of ≥ 24 for 5-year overall survival (OS) and ≥ 26 for 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) gave significantly increased rate advantages of 64 and 56%, respectively (both p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

This work sheds light on regional metastatic distribution pattern and its influence on TL cases. An NY of n ≥ 26 can be considered a desirable benchmark for bilateral selective neck dissections as it leads to improved OS and DFS. Therefore, an omission of distinct neck levels cannot be promoted at this time.

Level IIb Neck Dissection in Oral Cavity Cancers- When Should One Address it..?

Nodal metastases is the most important prognostic marker for oral cavity cancers. Nodal dissection at level IIb risks damage to the spinal accessory nerve. We aim to study positivity of level IIb lymph nodes in oral cancers. In this non-randomized prospective observational study, 65 patients of oral cavity cancers were evaluated. Appropriate surgery for primary tumour and neck dissection were undertaken. All patients underwent level II b dissection. Out of 67 neck dissections (27 elective and 40 therapeutic), 7 patients had level IIb positive for metastases (10.44 %) with no isolated or contralateral metastases at level IIb and direct correlation with level IIa nodes. There was no statistical association of level IIb positivity with stage or site of primary. Level IIb dissection can be avoided in N0 necks. For therapeutic neck dissections, Level IIb should be cleared if there are positive nodes at level IIa.