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Abstract Background Selective neck dissection (SND) has traditionally been applied to clinically negative (cN0) necks in mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We aimed to examine the oncological safety and patterns of regional recurrence (RR) of SND in clinically positive (cN+) necks. Methods Retrospective review of prospective cohort of 206 patients with mucosal SCC undergoing neck dissection. RR was classified as occurring within previously dissected levels, within ipsilateral undissected levels, within unusual locations of ipsilateral neck, or contralateral neck. Results Seven of seventy‐seven (9.1%) cN+ patients undergoing SND developed isolated RR, versus 16.2% after MRND, and 8.7% after SND for cN0 disease. RR was rarely seen within undissected levels of the ipsilateral neck. RR and survival rates were not associated with ND extent (SND vs. MRND) among either cN+ or pN+ patients. Conclusion SND can be safely performed in most patients with cN+ SCC, who do not have gross sternocleidomastoid infiltration or level V metastases.
Altawil et al. (Wed,) studied this question.