Supraomohyoid Neck Dissection in patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Oral Cavity

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and outcome of a common SND-supra-omohyoid neck dissection (SOHND) with or without adjuvant radiation therapy in the management of cervical metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Methods: The study included 237 previously untreated patients with oral cavity cancer. The neck treatment consisted of SOHND or functional neck dissection (FND). One hundred sixty patients underwent postoperative radiation therapy. Survival probabilities, neck recurrences, and distant metastases were analyzed according to the surgical procedure. Results: For patients having undergone SOHND, the 5-year survival probabilities were 70.2% and 76.5% in N0 and N1 necks, respectively. The neck recurrence rate in SOHND was 2%. Conclusions: SOHND is an effective method of treatment for the clinically negative neck in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. It also proves efficient, in conjunction with postoperative radiotherapy, for control of neck metastases in selected patients.