Lymph node surgery (neck dissection)

What is a neck dissection?

A neck dissection is an operation where the lymph nodes or glands in the neck are removed because cancer has passed into the lymph node or there is a risk that it may have done so.

Types of neck dissections

• A central neck dissection is used for patients with thyroid cancer who has spread to the lymph nodes around center of the neck.  

• Lateral neck dissections are for more advance thyroid cancers and other head and neck cancers that have spread to the lymph nodes.  The standard procedure (also known as a modified lateral neck dissection) is done preserving all major muscles,  nerves and blood vessels of the head and neck with minimal adverse effect.

• The exact type neck dissection that that you will require depends on the location of the original cancer, if there is confirmed disease in the lymph node and if the disease has spread to nearby structures. Dr Wang will be able to optimise the procedures to your condition while minimising adverse effects.

What to expect

Dr Wang will use a skin crease to minimise the visibility of incision where possible. Numbness in the skin usually recovers gradually over a few months. In a small number of patients, other structures in the neck may be involved and need to be removed.

The operation carried out under General Anaesthetic and can take 2-3 hours. After surgery you will have a drainage tube that will collection any fluid or blood from the wound site to reduce neck swelling. You will remain in hospital for 3-5 days until the drain has been removed.  Depending ont the extent of the operation, most people take 2 weeks to recover from the procedure.