Elective Lymphadenectomy during Salvage for Locally Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma after Radiation

Abstract

The risk of occult nodal metastases of 22.2%, in this study, may be too high to justify routinely omitting elective cervical lymphadenectomy in this patient population. Lymphadenectomy should especially be considered in patients with persistent tumors, with advanced recurrent T-stage, and undergoing free flap reconstruction.