The Use of Clinical Criteria Alone in the Management of the Clinically Negative Neck Among Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity and Oropharynx

Abstract

Elective neck dissection was performed in most patients, and occult metastatic disease was found in nearly 30% of neck dissections. Observation was most frequently used for patients with early stage disease, and subsequent development of neck metastases was uncommon (9%) in this group. Selective treatment of the clinically negative neck based on the primary tumor site and stage led to a high rate of regional disease control in this series.