Abstract
Background We aimed to analyze the distribution of regional nodal metastases according to primary tumor location in patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Methods Analysis of 295 neck dissections performed for patients with clinically evident regional metastases from cutaneous SCCHN between 1987 and 2009. Results Level I involvement in the absence of level II or III only occurred in patients with facial primaries. In patients with clear nodes in level II-III, the risk of level IV-V involvement was 0.0% for external ear primaries, 2.7% for face and anterior scalp, and 15.8% for posterior scalp and neck. Conclusion In patients undergoing parotidectomy for metastatic cutaneous SCCHN with a clinically negative neck, the results of this study support selective neck dissection including level I-III for facial primaries, level II-III for anterior scalp and external ear primaries, and levels II-V for posterior scalp and neck primaries.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1288-1294 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Head and Neck |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2010 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
- head and neck
- lymph nodes
- neck dissection
- parotid metastasis