OBJECTIVES:
* Perform a retrospective analysis, by medical chart review, of patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who underwent neck dissection following complete response to chemoradiotherapy.
* Determine whether the role of a post-chemoradiotherapy neck dissection affects the outcome of the patient's disease, in terms of overall survival, disease-free survival, and recurrence rates.
OUTLINE: This is a pilot, retrospective study.
Patients who have undergone neck dissection after achieving a complete clinical and radiological response to chemoradiotherapy are compared to patients who did not. Data are gathered by medical chart review.
