Neck dissection and stroke in patients with oral cavity cancer: A population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND Oral cavity cancer is one of the most common head and neck cancers in the world. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors for stroke after surgery in patients with oral cavity cancer with a focus on the effect of neck dissection. METHODS Data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for newly diagnosed oral cavity cancer between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2007, were included. RESULTS Neck dissection did not increase the risk of stroke after treatment. Patients with ages older than 44 years, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, previous stroke, or postoperative chemoradiotherapy had a significantly higher risk of stroke (p < .05). CONCLUSION Our data demonstrate that neck dissection does not increase the risk of stroke in patients with oral cavity cancer. Patients have higher risk of stroke after cancer treatment because of their older age, specific comorbidities, and/or type of postoperative treatment. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 63-70, 2017.