Neck Dissection

Cancer of the head and neck is common, consisting around 15% of all human cancers in India. The term “head and neck cancer” traditionally refers to malignant tumors that arise in the mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract including the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, nasalcavity and paranasal sinuses. More than 90% of these are squamous cell carcinomas. Other infrequent tumors are those arising from the salivary glands, thyroid, soft tissues and skin. In spite of increasing awareness of both the public and physicians concerning the importance of early diagnosis, many patients still present for treatment with spread of the cancer to regional or distant sites. Reports from the American Cancer Society (ACS) indicate that over 40% of the patient with squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity and pharynx present with regional dissemination of the disease at the time of initial diagnosis.The purpose of this book is to discuss the current concepts in cervical lymph node metastases and development of various techniques in neck dissection to reduce morbidity while eradicating the pathology completely.