Bilateral radical neck dissection.

From January 1960 to December 1977, 61 patients had a simultaneous one-stage bilateral neck dissection with or without excision of the primary lesion, while 63 patients had a therapeutic second (two stage) neck dissection performed by our service. In ten patients, one or both of the internal jugular veins and spinal accessory nerve were preserved. Patients in both groups were staged, using the American Joint Commission 1977 clinical classification. All the pathologic specimens had lymph node clearance done. Simultaneous bilateral neck dissection, in the present study, has an operative mortality of 10%, with 11% life-threatening complications and with 62% significant postoperative facial swelling. There is an overall three- and five-year survival rate of 20% and 12.5%. Patients who had bilateral staged neck dissection had complications seen in 54%, with a 3.2% mortality rate. The overall three- and five-year survival in this group of patients was 60% and 38%, respectively.