A surgical procedure to treat extensive cancer of the mouth and neck; includes removing parts of the jawbone, tongue, larynx, lymph nodes, and muscles of the neck.
A surgical procedure to remove lymph nodes, which are small glands that act as a filter and as a barrier to infection and that may be involved in cancer of the head and neck. There are about 300 lymph nodes located in the head and neck. Cancers in the head and neck may spread to the lymph nodes in the neck and need to be removed. The purpose of the procedure is to prevent further spread of cancer to other parts of the body. It is an effective method for controlling head and neck cancer in many cases. Complications of the surgery include injury to the nerves controlling the lower face, throat, shoulder, and tongue, as well as changes in skin sensation under the ear and jaw. Side effects may include weakness in the shoulder and pain in the neck. Radical neck dissection is sometimes combined with removal of parts of the jawbone and floor of the mouth, which may lead to disfigurement and loss of some of the nerves controlling the tongue and jaw.
The removal of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, internal jugular vein, spinal accessory nerve, and lymph nodes of the neck. The surgery is used primarily for the treatment of head and neck cancers.
A surgical technique performed to extract cancerous lymph nodes situated in the neck. This procedure is frequently integrated into the treatment regimen for cancers affecting the tongue, tonsils, or other components within the oral cavity and throat.
Administered under general anesthesia (refer to general anesthesia), the procedure involves elevating a section of skin on the impacted neck side to uncover the underlying sternomastoid muscle. This muscle is incised slightly above the collarbone (clavicle) and raised. Subsequently, all components of the neck’s lymphatic system (including lymph vessels and nodes) are excised, along with the internal jugular vein, lower salivary gland, and adjacent tissues.