Acta Cirúrgica Brasileira (Jul 2016)

Quantitative analysis of lymph nodes in neck dissection specimens. Morphologic study

  • Fábio de Aquino Capelli,
  • Vitor Ribeiro Paes,
  • Mariangela Marinheiro Machado,
  • Camila Lohmann Menezes,
  • Pablo Rodrigo Andrade da Silva,
  • Sheila Aparecida Coelho Siqueira,
  • Venâncio Avancini Ferreira Alves,
  • Leandro Luongo Matos,
  • Claudio Roberto Cernea

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-865020160070000001
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 31, no. 7
pp. 428 – 433

Abstract

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ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To quantify the amount of lymph nodes harvested in modified radical neck dissection. METHODS: Cross-sectional anatomical study conducted in 28 non-preserved cadavers. RESULTS: The mean number of lymph nodes found in each nodal level of the 56 modified radical neck dissections performed were: level IA - 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1 - 1.8), level IB - 2.5 (95% CI: 2.1 - 2.9), level IIA - 7.2 (95% CI: 6.0 - 8.5), IIB level - 6.5 (95% CI: 5.5 - 7.4), level III - 6.6 (95% CI: 5.7 - 7.4), level IV - 8.6 (95% CI: 7.1 - 10.1), level V - 11 (95% CI: 9.2 - 12.7), totalizing 43.8 lymph nodes (95% CI: 40.3 - 47.4). CONCLUSION: The results defined a parameter in relation to the minimum recommended nodal yield in a modified radical neck dissection, as well as the number of lymph nodes in each level of this dissection, performed in clinical practice.

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