Quantitative analysis of lymph nodes in neck dissection specimens. Morphologic study

Capelli, Fábio de AquinoPaes, Vitor RibeiroMachado, Mariangela MarinheiroMenezes, Camila LohmannSilva, Pablo Rodrigo Andrade daAparecida Coelho Siqueira, SheilaAvancini Ferreira Alves, VenâncioMatos, Leandro LuongoCernea, Claudio Roberto

PURPOSE:To quantify the amount of lymph nodes harvested in modified radical neck dissection.METHODS:Cross-sectional anatomical study conducted in 28 non-preserved cadavers.RESULTS:The mean number of lymph nodes found in each nodal level of the 56 modified radical neck dissections performed were: level IA - 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1 - 1.8), level IB - 2.5 (95% CI: 2.1 - 2.9), level IIA - 7.2 (95% CI: 6.0 - 8.5), IIB level - 6.5 (95% CI: 5.5 - 7.4), level III - 6.6 (95% CI: 5.7 - 7.4), level IV - 8.6 (95% CI: 7.1 - 10.1), level V - 11 (95% CI: 9.2 - 12.7), totalizing 43.8 lymph nodes (95% CI: 40.3 - 47.4).CONCLUSION:The results defined a parameter in relation to the minimum recommended nodal yield in a modified radical neck dissection, as well as the number of lymph nodes in each level of this dissection, performed in clinical practice.(AU)

1. head and neck neoplasms
2. cadaver
3. neck dissection
4. lymph node excision
5. anatomy