Endoscopic-assisted selective neck dissection via small lateral neck incision for early-stage (T1-2N0M0) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: 3-year follow-up results

Primary tumors of early-stage (T1-2N0M0) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) can be treated by transoral minimally invasive surgery, but the cervical lymph node lacks corresponding minimally invasive treatment. Therefore, our study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of endoscopic-assisted selective neck dissection (EASND) via small lateral neck incision in treatment of early-stage HNSCC. From May 2008 to April 2012, 29 patients with early-stage HNSCC were enrolled in this retrospective study. EASND via small lateral neck incision was followed by primary tumors treated by transoral endoscopy or CO2 laser microsurgery in all patients. The clinical data and follow-up results were analyzed retrospectively. Twenty-nine patients (male 22, female 7) were successfully treated by EASND and no case conversed to open surgery. EASND included eight cases of level I-III and 21 cases of level II-IV. The operative time was 68.4 +/- 10.3 min, and the operative bleeding was 40.8 +/- 12.4 ml. The number of lymph nodes was 19.1 +/- 4.1. There were 19 cases of T1, 10 cases of T2, 22 cases of N0, 7 cases of N1, no cases with positive margin or extracapsular spread in lymph node. Temporary sensory changes in the postauricular area occurred in two cases, both recovered within 3 months after the surgery, postoperative seromas occurred in one case. No patient showed postoperative bleeding, chylous fistula, incision infection, facial nerve injury, and accessory nerve injury. All patients were satisfied with the postoperative cosmetic results. The 3-year OS was 96.5 %, while DFS, LRFS, and DMFS were 100 %. EASND via small lateral neck incision is a feasible and safe technique with achieved short-term oncologic outcomes in early-stage (T1-2N0M0) HNSCC patients. But the long-term results of EASND on oncologic safety and functional outcomes are required to confirm by larger, randomised studies.