Carotid artery is the most important artery that carries the major part of the blood supply to the head and neck. The branching of the common carotid artery usually occurs at the upper edge of the thyroid cartilage. The placement of carotid sinus has also increased its importance in this area. Considering the clinical importance of knowledge about carotid artery variations, this case is reporte...

BACKGROUND The indications and extent of cervical lymph node dissection in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are still being debated. The aim of this study was to analyze the patterns of cervical lymph node metastasis in the lateral and central compartment and related factors and suggest the optimal extent of lateral and central neck dissection for PTC patients with clinical lateral lymph node ...

BACKGROUND Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is associated with a high incidence of regional node metastasis, but the patterns of lateral neck node metastasis (LNM) vary. Occasionally, a solitary LNM (SLNM) is seen in PTC patients. We therefore assessed whether selective single level node dissection is appropriate in PTC patients with SLNM. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical reco...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the results of elective neck dissection versus those of observation in the treatment of early stage oral squamous cell carcinoma and to identify factors related to recurrence and survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a retrospective study of 52 patients who underwent elective neck dissection and 27 who did not receive neck dissection. RESULTS In survival analyses, ...

OBJECTIVES To analyze the distribution of lymph node metastases in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and improve the rationale for elective treatment of the neck. DESIGN AND SETTING Retrospective cohort study of patients evaluated from 1990 to 1998 in a tertiary cancer care center. PATIENTS The 81 consecutive patients who were identified from the hospital database. Patient...

Cancer of the tongue or the floor of the mouth sometimes metastasizes to the lingual lymph node. We present two patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth who developed metastases to the lateral lingual lymph nodes. Case 1, a 62-year old male, had squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth (T3N2cM0). He underwent tumor resection and bilateral neck dissection, and his...

BACKGROUND Studies on morbidity of the neck after head and neck cancer therapy are scarcely described. METHODS Patients who underwent surgery, including neck dissection, with and without radiation therapy at least 1 year before the study were asked to participate. We assessed neck pain, loss of sensation, range of motion of the cervical spine, and shoulder pain. RESULTS Of the 220 patients ...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To determine the incidence of level IIB lymph node metastasis in patients with laryngeal or hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and to evaluate the need for elective and therapeutic neck dissection of level IIB. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study and review of the literature. METHODS Patients with laryngeal or hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (N = 65) wer...

BACKGROUND Therapeutic paratracheal neck dissection for patients with papillary carcinoma of the thyroid is standard treatment. Its use as an elective procedure is controversial. METHODS Thirty-seven patients with papillary carcinoma of the thyroid and evidence of positive adenopathy at levels II-V underwent selective neck dissection and elective/therapeutic paratracheal neck dissection. Resu...

UNLABELLED The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relation between shoulder morbidity (pain and range of motion), and the function of the spinal accessory nerve after neck dissection. Identifying dysfunction of the nerve gives insight in the mechanisms of post-operative shoulder complaints. In total 112 patients after neck dissection (73 males/39 females), mean (SD) age 61 (13)...