Clinical implication of neck dissection for metastatic lymph nodes originating from non-head and neck regions.

Background: Cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) from remote primary sites is rare in head and neck cancer. The efficacy of neck dissection is still being investigated for therapeutic benefits of local management in oligometastasis from non-head and neck cancer.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of neck dissection (ND) in CLNM from distant primary cancers and identify factors contributing to improved survival.

Materials and methods: This retrospective case-control study enrolled patients who underwent ND for CLNM from distant primary cancer at Asan Medical Centre between January 2010 and December 2020. We analysed overall survival and association between clinical covariate and survival.

Results: The study included 31 (14 males, 17 females) among 114 patients. Ovarian cancer was the most common primary malignancy (32.3%). Patients with fewer than three metastatic lymph nodes, without extranodal extension and with adjuvant therapy after surgery had better survival rates.

Conclusion and significance: In patients with CLNM from a distant primary cancer, ND is beneficial as local treatment. And adequate selection of patients for ND is pivotal to improve prognosis.