J Korean Radiol Soc.  1995 Feb;32(2):231-236.

CT Evaluation of Postoperative Neck Dissection

• Lee NJ
• Kim JH
• Chung HH
• Lee MR

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate CT findings of normal anatomic alteration after neck dissection.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The postoperative CT findings were retrospectively reviewed in 40 patients with neck dissection, comparing to preoperative CT. There were 28 patients with radical neck dissection and 12 patients with modified radical neck dissection or selective neck dissection. In addition to the neck dissection, 10 patients had undergone pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction, 20 patients taken laryngectomy, and 25 patients treated with radiotherapy.
RESULTS
The typical CT findings of radical neck dissection were non-visualization of internal jugular vein and sternocleidomastoid muscle(28/28), ipsilateral neck flattening(26/28), and trapezius muscular atrophy(12/28). The other non-specific findings were tissue plane eftacement, subcutaneous reticular pattern, platysma muscle thickening, and adjacent soft tissue contrast enhancement which was the only evidence of previous operation in the cases of modified radical neck dissection or selective neck dissection. Reconstruction with myocutaneous flap was shown as ipsilateral bulk of fat and muscle(10/10). In cases with radiation therapy there was much increased density of submandibular gland(12/25). 15 patients showed recurrence on follow up CT scan, including regional metastasis in 10, stomal recurrence in two, and residual mass at primary site in three patients.
CONCLUSION
CT is useful in evaluation of patients with neck dissection and in whom postoperative change impese diagnostic problem.

MeSH Terms

Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Jugular Veins
Laryngectomy
Myocutaneous Flap
Neck Dissection*
Neck*
Neoplasm Metastasis
Radiotherapy
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Superficial Back Muscles
Tomography, X-Ray Computed