A COMPARISON OF RADICAL AND CONSERVATIVE NECK DISSECTION

A review is presented of the confusing terminology applied to the vari ous types of neck dissection. It is recommended that the terms ''conse rvative'' and ''radical'' be based on clear definitions. The fourth pr ospective, randomized DOSAK therapy study deals with the controversial issue of radical as compared with conservative neck dissection. Patie nts with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity who had not been treated before were randomized and stratified according to the DO SAK treatment-dependent prognostic index (TPI). At present, 104 patien ts have been evaluated, of whom 48 had radical neck dissection, and 56 conservative neck dissection. Tumor location and patient age and sex are equally divided in both therapy groups. After an average follow-up time of 460 days, the relative mortality for both therapy groups is 2 3%. At this stage, there is no difference between the two groups in th e percentage of patients with complete remission or in the percentage of patients alive. At this stage, there appears to be no difference be tween the two groups with regard to patient survival or recurrent dise ase.