What is a radical neck dissection? when is it done?

What is a radical neck dissection?

The surgeon removes a block of tissue from the collarbone to the jaw and from the front to the back of the neck. The large muscle on the side of the neck that is used for rotating, flexing or extending the neck is also taken out, along with the major vein on the side of the neck. Sometimes, a less drastic operation, called a supraomohyoid neck dissection is done. This takes out only the lymph nodes, the tissue surrounding the nodes and a muscle at the front of the neck. Another technique, called a functional neck dissection, saves the muscles of the neck, taking out only the lymph nodes and tissues surrounding them.

What kind of incision is made with a radical neck dissection?

The incision depends upon what the surgery is for. It can run from below the ear to the collarbone. Everything in the front of the neck on one side or on both sides may be removed. This may include the lymph nodes, blood vessels, nerves, and the salivary gland under the jawbone.

When is a radical neck dissection performed?

A radical neck dissection is performed to remove the tumor and the lymph nodes in the neck. Cancers such as those of the lips, tongue, and larynx sometimes spread to the lymph nodes, requiring them to be removed.

Is a tracheostomy done as part of the operation for radical neck dissection?

A tracheostomy (opening made in the windpipe) is usually necessary if the doctor is going to perform a radical neck dissection. After a few days the tube will be taken out and the opening will close.

Is a radical neck dissection a major operation?

Yes, it is. It may require up to 5 or 6 hours to perform when it is done along with the removal of the primary cancer.

Why is it important to exercise after I have had radical neck dissection?

In a radical neck dissection, the nerve responsible mainly for arm motion, which connects with one of the most important muscles in your neck and upper back, is cut. It makes it harder for you to raise your arm over your head or out to your side. If the surgery is on both sides of your neck, you will probably have some trouble raising both arms. However, there are special exercises which wiil help you get some of the strength back again.

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 17, 2020 at 11:38 AM

    Hmm iis anyone else haing problems wiith the pictures on this blog loading?

    I'm trying to find out if itts a problem on my end
    or if it's the blog. Any feedback would be grwatly appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousOctober 23, 2020 at 6:33 PM

    It's remarkable designed for me to have a site, which is useful in favor of my knowledge.

    thanks admin

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 3, 2020 at 7:15 AM

    Hello, just wanted to tell you, I liked this blog post.

    It was helpful. Keep on posting!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousFebruary 6, 2021 at 6:41 AM

    Hello, I want too subscribe for this website to obtain hottest updates, thus where can i do
    it please assist.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2021 at 10:23 AM

    Wow, this post is nice, my sister is analyzinjg these things, so I am
    going to let know her.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousMarch 17, 2021 at 8:59 AM

    Its not my first time to visit this site, i am browsimg thijs web site dailly
    and obtain niice data from here every day.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousApril 2, 2021 at 1:09 PM

    I've been exploring for a bbit for any high-quality articless or weblog posts inn this sort
    of area . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this website.
    Studykng this information So i am happy to express that I have an incredibly good
    uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed.
    I so much definitely will mak certain to don?t put out of your mind
    this site and give it a look regularly.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousApril 26, 2021 at 6:33 AM

    I always spent my half an hourr to read this website's articles or reviews all
    the time along with a cup off coffee.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousMay 4, 2021 at 4:39 AM

    Thanls for the auspicious writeup. It in reality was once a
    ammusement account it. Glance complex tto far introduced agreeable frtom you!
    However, howw could we keep up a correspondence?

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousMay 4, 2021 at 5:09 AM

    Thhis blog was... how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally
    I've found something that helped me. Appreciate it!

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousMay 10, 2021 at 10:47 AM

    I enjoy,cause I ound just what I was taking a look
    for. You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you
    man. Have a great day. Bye

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Where does Melanoma most often metastasize?

Image
What is malignant melanoma? Malignant melanoma is a less common form of skin cancer . When diagnosed early, it is easily cured. But if it is not found soon enough, it can be very difficult to treat. It is dangerous because, unlike the other skin cancers, it mestastasizes early and spreads quickly. It is one of the more uncontrollable cancers. The cell involved is the melanocyte, the cell which produces melanin, the dark protective pigment of the skin . What is the difference between an ordinary mole and melanoma? An ordinary mole is evenly colored, and either brown, tan or black. It may be flat or raised. It is round or oval and its edges are sharply defined. An ordinary mole is usually less than 6 millimeters in diameter about the size of a pencil eraser. Ordinary moles may be present at birth. Sometimes several appear at the same time, usually on areas of the skin which have been exposed to the sun. Once the mole develops, it usually stays the same size, shape and color for ma
Read more

Oral(Mouth) Cancer: Symptoms, Bleeding, Treatment and Diagnose

Image
What kinds of cancers are found in the mouth? The cancers of the mouth (oral cavity) include the lip, tongue, floor of the mouth, cheeks (buccal mucosa), and gums (gingivae). Who is at high risk to get cancer of the mouth? This cancer is predominantly found in men between the ages of 60 and 70. People who are heavy smokers (more than a pack a day), drink alcohol heavily, are over 45, and have a family history of this kind of cancer are at a higher risk to develop cancers of the oral cavity, the mouth, and the throat. Is cancer of the mouth easy to detect? Yes, it is usually discovered early, since it can be seen easily. White patches ( leukoplakia ), velvety red spots (erythroplasia), or dark patches are symptoms which should be seen by a doctor, who will do a biopsy of them. Many cancers of the mouth are first discovered by dentists. What are the symptoms of oral cancer? The warning signs of oral cancer are as follows: • A lump in the cheek that can be felt with the
Read more

Ejaculation and sexual life problems after prostate surgery

Image
Yes. After prostatectomy , the ability to ejaculate through the penis is lost. What happens is that ejaculation occurs but it is directed backward into the bladder , rather than forward through the urethra. The semen remains in the bladder until urination, and is carried out via that route. The man who ejaculates in this manner has the very same sensations during sex that he had before except that there is no discharge through the penis. Can a total prostatectomy be done without impairing the ability to have an erection?  Dr. Patrick C. Walsh, a surgeon at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, has developed a way of removing the prostate which preserves potency by bypassing the intricate nerve branches of the pelvic plexus. This technique is now being adopted by many surgeons for patients with early stage prostate cancer. Until the advent of this type of surgery, 90 percent of those having prostatectomies lost their sexual ability, and 2 to 5 percent became in
Read more

How to know if your ankle is broken? How is a broken ankle treated?

Image
Fractures of the Ankle How do ankle fractures occur?  Ankle fractures are caused by a forceful and excessive twisting of the ankle , either in or out. The twist comes from stumbling, catching the foot in a crevice, or falling, in which the weight of the body is unevenly distributed. Many skiers suffer fractured ankles, and some of the best treatments have been evolved by surgeons practicing near ski slopes. The stress and strain factors in the ankle are so uniform that the pattern of the injury, dislocation and deformity is specific. Many varieties of ankle fractures are grouped together under the name of Pott's fracture. What shall I do, Doctor? I'm at a gas station phone and my wife just fell down and twisted her ankle.  If it is painful and she can't walk, it may be a fracture. Don't manipulate it, don't pull it. Just wrap a towel or pillow around it and take her to a hospital for an X ray. It is best if she does not walk. You can carry her in a chair.
Read more

How painful is a bone marrow transplant for the donor

Image
What is a bone marrow transplant?  Bone marrow transplantation is an approach used over the past 10 years for the treatment of acute leukemia and lymphoma. It is a complex procedure and should be undertaken only by physicians with the experience and resources needed to get the best results. When is a bone marrow transplant used?  It may be used in some cases of several types of diseases aplastic anemia (when patients do not have enough red cells to carry oxygen, enough white cells to fight bacteria, or enough platelets to help clotting), in some types of acute and chronic leukemia, for some lymphomas, for severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome, and for certain inherited blood disorders such as thalassemia. A bone marrow transplant replaces a patient's abnormal or diseased marrow with healthy marrow from a donor. Can any leukemia patient undergo a bone marrow transplantation?  No. When patients and doctors consider the possibility of treatment with a bone marrow transpl
Read more

What are the most important side effects of taking female hormones?

Image
Would the doctor prescribe estrogen if my ovaries were removed because of cancer?  No. If there is any sign of a cancerous condition, estrogen would probably not be prescribed.  What is the estrogen controversy?  Estrogen is a female hormone produced by the ovaries. Scientists have also developed chemical estrogen. Both regulate the development of female sexual characteristics. For a number of years, estrogens have been prescribed for women during and after menopause to make up for the decline in this hormone normally produced by the ovaries. Estrogen has been found helpful in relieving symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, in overcoming drying of vaginal tissues and in retarding osteoporosis (thinning of bones). However, the use of estrogen during and after menopause has been linked to an increase in endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus), and it may be linked to other cancers as well. At this time,scientists do not agree about whether t
Read more

What is the symptoms of a head concussion? Is concussion a brain injury?

Image
Head Injuries The brain is man's most vital possession. Recent details about organ transplants have centered on the definition of death. These discussions have emphasized that, even though the heart may continue to beat, the individual is considered dead if there is no brain activity. Nature provides a thick scalp and skull to protect the brain and further encloses it in envelopes called the meninges. Some injuries to the head may be trivial, others may be fatal. The surgeon who is called upon to evaluate the patient with a head injury tackles the problem from within out. Damage to the brain and its envelope is most important; injury to the skull is of concern in only some instances. Bleeding from the scalp is the most apparent manifestation of injury but is the least important. Survival and the late effects of a head injury depend on the extent of the injury to the brain and not to its coverings. The best possible supportive medical crre is provided to those who will reco
Read more

How is a broken or cracked rib treated?

Image
Chest Injuries The chest consists of the bony thorax and the organs that lie within it. The thorax comprises twelve ribs on each side of the chest, each of which attaches to the bony spine in the back and to the chest bone ( sternum ) in front. Each chest cavity has a smooth delicate lining ( pleura ) within which the lung rhythmically expands and deflates. The diaphragm is the dome shaped muscle that seals off the lower end of the chest from the abdomen. Its upand down motion provides the bellows action for the expansion of the lungs that fills them with air. The function of the lungs is to provide ventilation. Air is moved in to provide oxygen, and carbon dioxide is moved out as a waste product. The heart is in its own envelope in the center of the chest, behind the breastbone. The heart functions solely as a pump. It circulates the blood into the lung for oxygenation and delivers oxygenated blood to the entire body. The chest also harbors the large blood vessels and the br
Read more

The most important difference between Hodgkin's disease and non-hodgkin's lymphoma

Image
Hodgkin's Disease and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma What are lymphomas? Lymphomas are cancers that affect the white blood cells of the immune system. They are characterized by the abnormal growth of lymphocytes, the infection fighting cells in the lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus. The tonsils, stomach, small intestine, and skin may also be affected. Lymphomas are usually classified as Hodgkin's disease, the most common form, or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. There are also other rare forms of the disease, such as mycosis fungoides, a primary skin lymphoma. Burkitt's lymphoma , rare in most of the world, is the most common childhood cancer in central Africa and is one of the fastest growing human cancers. What is the role of the lymph system in the body?  The lymph system is made up of nodes and thin walled tubelike veins along which the nodes lie. Its job is to help fight diseases and infection, and it serves as part of the body's drainage system. Lymph nodes are
Read more

Common Hand Injuries: Treatment for swollen hand due to injury

Image
Hand Injuries Most of us earn our living with our hands. The goal of the treatment of hand injuries is maximum preservation of function. In terms of possible permanent disability, there is no minor surgery in this area. The magnitude of the problem is apparent in the frequency with which it appears in the statistics of the Workmen's Compensation Board and insurance companies. The best treatment is prevention. One must be constantly alert to the possibility of punctures, door slams, burns, pressure injuries, and the perverse potential of certain mechanical tools. Failing this, early treatment to prevent infection is best. There are relatively clearly defined methods of managing various types of injury. The patient can describe the site of the injury by indicating its relation to the various creases in the palm or to the knuckles and nails on the back of the hand. Physicians can treat all hand and finger injuries under some form of nerve blocking anesthesia, so the patient feels
Read more