후두 및 하인두 편평세포암종에서 Level I 경부청소술의 유용성

The Effectiveness of Level I Neck Dissection in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Larynx and Hypopharynx

Background and Objectives： Metastasis to the submental and submandibular lymph nodes rarely occurs in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of level I neck dissection in squamous cell carcinoma of larynx and hypopharynx. Materials and Methods : Forty-three patients with pathologically positive cervical nodal involvement in squamous cell carcinoma of larynx and hypopharynx treated between 1989 to 1998 were reviewed. Fifteen patients were treated with neck dissection including level 1,28 patients were treated with neck dissection excluding the level 1. Results : The regional recurrence at the level I in patients treated with neck dissection excluding the level I, was shown in only one case (recurrence rate 3.6%), but this patient was efficiently managed with salvage operation and adjuvant radiotherapy. No recurrence was shown in patients treated with neck dissection including the level I. So, total recurrence rate at the level I was 2.3%. Conclusion : This study suggests that dissection of the level I is not justified in squamous cell carcinoma of larynx and hypopharynx even if metastasis to cervical lymph node was confirmed preoperatively (cN+).