NECK DISSECTIONS: MISCONCEPTIONS, MALPRACTICE AND COMMON CONTROVERSIES

B a c k g ro u n d. Neck metastases are the single mostimportant prognostic factor in Head and Neck Squamous CellCarcinoma. Wise approach to neck treatment is then mandatoryto give a chanche for cure.Still, there are some issues about neck dissection thatneed to be clarified.M e t h o d s. Through a review of the literature and ofeveryday clinical observations, the following issues are discussed:Functional Neck Dissection, biopsies, nodal levels,Selective Neck Dissections, Spinal Accessory Nerve, neck dissectionclassification.R e s u l t s. Integration of historical, anatomical, clinicaland surgical concepts and up-to-date knowledge can allow tounderstand how to behave in diverse clinical situations.Conclusions. Standardized guidelines are far to be achieved.Wise behaviour, however, may allow to avoid somemistakes. The aim of this paper is to make the above mentionedissues clear and hopefully give more diffusion to concepts thattoo often seem to be overlooked.