Treatment of the N+ neck in squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract

This article discusses the following aspects of the management of the N+ neck: evolution of neck dissection; specificity of staging of the clinically N+ neck; limitations of neck dissection in patients with adverse histologic features; management of bilateral nodal metastases, fixed nodes, and nodes with involvement of skin, nerves or the carotid artery; retropharyngeal nodes; and salvage treatment of the N+ neck following prior irradiation. A summary of the author's own approach is then presented.