Page 29 - Head and neck surgery

CN0

cN0 disease is defined as those with no obvious cervical lymph node metastasis on clinical and

radiological examination.

There is still controversy in the management of this group of patients including when to perform

neck dissection and the extent of nodal dissection. The dilemma stems from concerns of added

morbidity associated with a negative neck dissection which includes:

• Marginal branch palsy

• CNXI palsy

• Hoarseness

• Chyle leak

• Bleeding

• Infection

• Scarring