HISTOLOGIC EVALUATION OF NECK DISSECTION SPECIMENS

Histologic evaluations of neck dissection specimens from carcinomas of the head and neck provide information required for disease staging, p lanning further treatment, and prognosis. Histologic evaluation perfor med adequately and accurately can and continues to provide a more accu rate, meaningful, and promising means of formulating and predicting pr ognosis including risk of metastases. A multi-institutional study usin g comprehensive standardized histologic evaluation of histopathologic variables of primary tumor and cervical lymph nodes among homogenous p atient groups receiving similar therapy is important. Histopathologic parameters remain an important adjunct parameter to clinical evaluatio n in guiding, planning treatment, and predicting prognosis for patient s with head and neck cancers.