Neck dissection: past and present

Abstract

The presence of lymph node metastasis to the neck is accepted as one of the single most important adverse prognostic indicators of survival in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Neck dissection in its various forms is the standard surgical treatment for clinical and subclinical metastatic cancer to the neck. This paper is a review of the anatomy of the neck, history and specific types of neck dissection, indications, therapeutic options, and current challenges in the treatment of metastatic neck disease.