Efficacy of neck dissection for locoregional failures versus isolated nodal failures in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Background Neck dissection has been shown to be effective in controlling nodal failures in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Its efficacy in controlling the disease in patients with synchronous locoregional failure is, however, not documented. Method A retrospective review of all patients who underwent neck dissection for nodal failures with or without treated local failure within 6 months was conducted for this study. The survivals of these 2 groups of patients were analyzed. Results The 5-year overall survival of the whole cohort was 58%. There was no difference in 5-year disease specific survival (68% vs 40%; p =.121) and 5-year progression free survival (44% vs 36%; p =.334) when comparing patients with isolated nodal failures and synchronous locoregional failures. Multivariate analysis showed that only the initial N classification affects survival. Conclusion Neck dissection is efficacious in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma with nodal failure, with or without synchronous local failures. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.