Pathology protocol increases lymph node yield in neck dissection for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Lymph node yield (LNY) is a proposed quality indicator in neck dissection for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). Methods: Retrospective series including 190 patients with OCSCC undergoing neck dissection between 2016 and 2018. A change in pathologic grossing protocol was initiated during the study period to assess residual adipose tissue. A generalized linear model was used to assess the impact of multiple variables on LNY. Results: Mean LNY was 28.59 (SD = 17.65). The protocol identified a mean of 10.32 lymph nodes per case. Multivariable analysis identified associations between LNY and use of the pathology protocol (P =.02), number of dissected lymph node levels (P