The neck dissection is a surgical procedure for control of neck lymph node metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck. The aim of the procedure is to remove lymph nodes from one side of the neck into which cancer cells may have migrated. Metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma into the lymph nodes of the neck reduce survival and is the most important factor in the spread of the disease. The metastases may originate from SCC of the upper aerodigestive tract, including the oral cavity, tongue, nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx, as well as the thyroid, parotid and posterior scalp.

Why a neck dissection is done

A neck dissection is done to:

• check for cancer in the lymph nodes in the neck
• remove lymph nodes that may contain cancer
• remove lymph nodes when there is a high chance cancer will spread to them
• reduce the chance that the cancer will come back (recur)
• remove cancer that is still in the lymph nodes after radiation therapy or chemotherapy
• help doctors plan further treatment