Extent of surgical intervention in case of N0 neck in head and neck cancer patients: an analysis of data collection of 39 hospitals.

In the discussion on the treatment of the clinical N0 neck in head and neck cancer, the sentinel lymphonodectomy is gaining more and more in significance. Prior to a multicentre study on the value of sentinel lymphonodectomy, it seemed to be desirable to collect data on the current practice of neck dissection in German ENT departments. First a standardised questionnaire was sent to 50 hospitals in Germany. It contained questions on the respective therapeutic concepts (uni- or bilateral modified radical neck dissection versus selective neck dissection, wait-and-see policy) in histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma (G2) and defined localisation of the primary tumour (T1-T2 carcinoma of the oral cavity, the oropharynx and hypopharynx as well as larynx). Summing up the evaluation of 39 anonymously answered questionnaires, it can be stated that no uniform therapeutic concept for the treatment of the cervical lymph nodes in carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract based on the stage of lymphatic metastatic disease exists. It seems to be essential to elaborate such a concept in order to be able to compete in the international context. Likewise, a widespread uniform therapeutic strategy would be the basic prerequisite for the initiation and realisation of multicentric therapy studies.