Purpose: This is a retrospective analysis of 50 patients with squamous cell
carcinoma of the head and neck treated with radiotherapy (RT) to the prima
ry site and bilateral neck followed by a planned bilateral neck dissection
approximately 4 to 6 weeks after completion of RT.
Patients and Methods: Between November 1964 and March 1997, 50 patients und
erwent bilateral neck dissections after RT, with minimum 2-year follow-up.
Forty-eight patients had bilateral positive neck nodes.
Results: At 5 years, the rates of neck disease control, local-regional cont
rol, and causes specific survival were 76%, 70%, and 39%, respectively. Fiv
e severe complications developed after surgery, and 1 developed after RT.
Conclusions: Radiotherapy followed by a planned bilateral neck dissection r
esulted in a high rate of local-regional control with acceptable morbidity.
The likelihood of severe complications after simultaneous (as opposed to s
taged) neck dissection was not significantly different (P =.24). Copyright
(C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.