Comparison of regional recurrence rates of radical and comprehensive neck dissection type 3 in N0 laryngeal cancer

To determine whether comprehensive neck dissection (CND) type 3 could accom plish regional tumor control as well as radical neck dissection (RND) in cl inically NO laryngeal cancer patients, we compared the regional recurrence rates of 316 NO laryngeal cancer patients. In the 316 NO patients, 486 neck dissections were performed. For 170 patients the dissection was bilateral, and for 146 patients it was unilateral. Of these, 193 were type 3 CNDs, an d 293 were RNDs. In 30 (15.5%) of 193 type 3 CNDs and in 53 (18.1%) of 293 RNDs, metastatic lymph nodes were determined histopathologically in neck di ssection specimens. The difference in cervical lymph node metastasis rates was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). During follow-up, 3 patients who underwent CND type 3 (1.6%) and 12 who underwent RND (4.1%) had regiona l recurrences. The difference between recurrence rates was not statisticall y significant (P > 0.05). A conclusion was reached that CND type 3 safely p rovided regional cancer control in NO laryngeal cancer and that it might be performed to decrease the morbidity of RND.