Complications of neck dissection.

Neck dissection is a surgical procedure used in the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer. The neck dissection involves excising the lymph nodes in specified regions of the neck with or without removing the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the internal jugular vein, and the spinal accessory nerve. The removal of cervical lymph nodes not only aids in staging the malignancy but also treats the nodal disease and dictates further treatment such as radiation therapy. Because of the proximity of vital structures, certain risks and complications are inherent to this operation. The prevention, recognition, and treatment of early and late complications of neck dissection are discussed.