Observation versus neck dissection for positron-emission tomography-negative lymphadenopathy after chemoradiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To analyze outcomes among patients with residual positron-emission tomography (PET)-negative lymphadenopathy after chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer based on whether or not they underwent neck dissection. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective review. METHODS Fifty-five patients with stage III/IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were identified with residual PET-negative lymphadenopathy based on standardized uptake value of <3. All patients had been treated with chemoradiotherapy to a median dose of 70 Gy (range, 60-4 Gy). RESULTS With a median follow-up of 30 months (range, 6-67 months), the 3-year overall survival (85% vs. 81%, P = .57), progression-free survival (88% vs. 88%, P = .42), and local-regional control (96% vs. 100%, P = .68), did not differ between patients treated by neck dissection or observation. CONCLUSIONS Omission of neck dissection appears to be reasonable for patients with residual lymphadenopathy but negative PET after chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4.