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Level I dissection for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer: is it indicated?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Alfio Ferlito  and
Alessandra Rinaldo
Alfio Ferlito*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
Alessandra Rinaldo
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
*
Address for correspondence: Professor Alfio Ferlito, M.D., Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Udine, Policlinico Città di Udine, Viale Venezia 410, 33100 Udine, Italy. Fax: 39-432-532179
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Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx tends to metastasize frequently to cervical lymph nodes, the location of which depends mainly on the site of the primary lesion. Five anatomical levels of cervical nodes have consequently been defined to standardize the terminology used to describe which lymph node groups are at risk for metastatic spread. Level I includes the submental and submandibular triangles. This review considers the role of these triangles in neck dissection and concludes that, unless there is clear evidence of spread, the inclusion of the level I triangles in the neck dissection is unwarranted since these nodes are not really at risk. There is therefore an important role for selective neck dissection in suitable cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx.

Keywords

Laryngeal neoplasmsHypopharyngeal neoplasmsLymph nodes
Type
Review Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 112 , Issue 5 , May 1998 , pp. 438 - 440
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1998

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Footnotes

The present study was supported by The Laryngeal Cancer Association

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