Radical and Modified Radical Neck Dissection

Cervical lymphadenectomy, the surgical removal of lymph nodes from the neck, is one of the mainstays of treatment in head and neck surgery. Contemporary neck dissection operations offer both diagnostic and therapeutic benefit, and are indicated in almost all oral cavity cancers. In cases where occult metastasis is unlikely, a limited neck dissection may be indicated to access vessels for use in microvascular reconstruction of a primary site defect. Nomenclature, indications, techniques, and complications are discussed.