Elective neck dissection for second primary after previous definitive radiotherapy

PurposeThe aim of this study was to define the role of neck dissection during surgery for patients who have received elective nodal irradiation in the course of treatment for a prior squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and are subsequently diagnosed with a second primary SCCHN.Materials and methodsWe reviewed the medical records of 13 patients who received both definitive radiotherapy and elective nodal irradiation for T1-4 N0 M0 SCCHN of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx who then subsequently developed a metachronous T1-4 N0 M0 SCCHN primary at a new site. All second primary tumors were treated with surgery. Ten of the 13 patients also received an elective neck dissection (END) at that time: 7 unilateral and 3 bilateral. We report the outcomes for the patients in this series.ResultsOne (8%) of 13 neck dissection specimens was positive in 1 (10%) of 10 patients. The 5-year outcomes were the following: local-regional control, 67%; local control, 77%; disease-free survival, 62%; overall survival, 38%; and cause-specific survival rate, 77%. Six patients experienced treatment-related complications of grade 2 or higher (per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4). Complications occurred exclusively in patients who received an END.ConclusionsThe risk of occult nodal disease may be low enough to justify omitting an END for a second primary SCCHN in selected patients while maintaining treatment efficacy and reducing patient morbidity. Larger studies on this subject are needed to further address this question.