Evaluation of the efficacy of a novel radical neck dissection preserving the external jugular vein, greater auricular nerve, and deep branches of the cervical nerve

Figures & data

Table 1 General information of the patients involved in this study

	RND	NRND
Case number	48	52
Gender
Male	30	31
Female	18	21
Position
Tongue	22	26
Cheek	14	18
Mouth floor	8	6
Lower gum	4	2
Clinical stage
III	13	14
IV	35	38
cN
N1	16	16
N2	32	36

Note: N₁ = metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, 3 cm or less in greatest dimension; N₂ = metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node more than 3 cm but not more than 6 cm in greatest dimension, or metastasis in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, none more than 6 cm in greatest dimension, or metastasis in bilateral or contralateral nodes, no more than 6 cm in greatest dimension.

Abbreviations: cN, clinical N stage; RND, radical neck dissection; NRND, novel radical neck dissection.

Figure 1 The patient was treated with conventional RND.

Abbreviation: RND, radical neck dissection.

Figure 2 The patient was treated with NRND before the accessory nerve was dissected.

Abbreviation: NRND, novel radical neck dissection.

Figure 3 The patient was treated with NRND after the accessory nerve was dissected.

Abbreviation: NRND, novel radical neck dissection.

Table 2 Facial edema, dizziness, and headache

	RND	NRND	Statistical value	P-value
Facial edema	43	20	27.98	<0.01
Edema regression time (d)	4.4 ± 0.3	3.1 ± 0.4	91.92	<0.01
Dizziness and headache	38	7	43.53	<0.01

Notes: The facial edema, dizziness, and headache were analyzed using Chi-square test. The edema regression time was analyzed using t-test. The difference was considered significant when P < 0.05. There was significant difference in facial edema, edema regression time, dizziness, and headache between RND and NRND.

Abbreviations: NRND, novel radical neck dissection; RND, radical neck dissection.

Table 3 Sensitivity of the skin of the auricle at 6 months after operation

	Case number	Sensitivity of the skin of the auricle			Statistical value	P-value
		Normal	Hypoesthesia	Numbness
RND	48	3	31	14	17.44	<0.01
NRND	52	31	20	1

Notes: The analysis was performed using rank sum test and revealed significant difference. The difference was considered significant when P < 0.05.

Abbreviations: NRND, novel radical neck dissection; RND, radical neck dissection.

Table 4 Shoulder function at 1 year after operation

	Case number	Shoulder syndrome and function			Statistical value	P-value
		Slight	Moderate	Severe
RND	48	10	24	14	5.29	<0.01
NRND	52	46	6	0

Notes: The analysis was performed using rank sum test and revealed significant difference. The difference was considered significant when P < 0.05.

Abbreviations: NRND, novel radical neck dissection; RND, radical neck dissection.

Table 5 Comparison of the postoperative cervical recurrence rate

	RND	NRND	Statistical value	P-value
Case number of cervical lymph node metastasis	45	47	0.3841	>0.05
Cervical lymph node recurrence rate	8.33%	7.69%	0.0139	>0.05

Notes: The case number of cervical lymph node metastasis was analyzed using Chi-square test. The cervical lymph node recurrence rate was analyzed using the Fisher’s exact test. The difference was considered significant when P < 0.05. There was no significant difference in the case number of cervical lymph node metastasis and the cervical lymph node recurrence rate between RND and NRND.

Abbreviations: NRND, novel radical neck dissection; RND, radical neck dissection.