Real time indocyanin green near infrared lymphangiography for the reduction of drainage volume after neck dissection

Neck dissection is an integral part of the surgical treatment for cancers in the head and neck region. The presence of lymph node metastasis, especially those with extra-capsular spread, is shown to have a negative impact on the survival outcome after treatment, warranting aggressive therapeutic neck dissection followed by adjuvant chemoradiation. On the other hand, in patients with clinically N0 necks, elective selective neck dissections are frequently performed for better staging of the cervical nodal status [1].
Source: Oral Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research