Lymph vessels draw up the lymph fluid from around the cells to send it towards the chest. The lymph nodes and any other tissue removed during surgery are sent to a lab to be examined by a doctor who specializes in the causes and nature of disease (pathologist).Lymph fluid would build up and cause swelling if it were not drained in some way. information about which symptoms and side effects you should report.a follow-up appointment to see the surgeon in 1–2 weeks.advice on body positions that may help reduce swelling.advice on how much and which types of activity you can do after surgery.instructions on caring for and dressing the wound.antibiotics to prevent infection (if the primary tumour is removed at the same time).The drain is left in place for a few days or until there is little drainage.Īfter a neck dissection, you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days. This reduces the chance of fluid building up in the tissue and improves healing. A drainage bag is attached to the end of the tube to collect fluid draining from the area. Radical neck dissection removes nearly all lymph nodes on one side of the neck as well as the internal jugular vein, sternocleidomastoid muscle and spinal accessory nerve.Īfter removing the lymph nodes, the surgeon places a small tube (drain) in the wound and closes the cut with stitches or staples. Modified radical neck dissection removes lymph nodes from levels I to V, but keeps one or more of the following – internal jugular vein, sternocleidomastoid muscle or spinal accessory nerve. A selective neck dissection is also called a functional neck dissection. The muscle and nerve tissue around the lymph nodes are not removed to maintain proper function of the neck and shoulder. How many and which lymph nodes are removed is based on the size and location of the primary tumour. Selective neck dissection removes only those lymph nodes where cancer is very likely to spread. Depending on the type of neck dissection surgery, the surgeon may also remove other tissue in the area. The surgeon makes a cut (incision) in the neck to remove the lymph nodes. You may have a neck dissection at the same time as surgery to remove the main tumour or as a separate surgery. This is done for tumours that are very likely to spread or have already spread to one or both sides of the neck. In head and neck cancer, you will have lymph nodes removed on one side of the neck (ipsilateral neck dissection) or both sides of the neck (bilateral neck dissection). The cervical lymph nodes are grouped into different levels based on where they are in theĪ neck dissection is done under general anesthetic in a hospital operating room. In moreĪdvanced stages of cancer, you may feel a lump in the neck as the lymph nodes in the In the early stages, you usually cannot feel the cancer in the lymph nodes. With head and neck cancers, the lymph fluid can sometimes carryĬancer cells into the cervical lymph nodes. The lymph fluid can carry cancer cells from where the cancer started Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped organs of They collect and move lymph fluidĪway from tissues into the lymph nodes.

Lymph vessels are thin tubes similar to blood vessels. Made up of lymph vessels, lymph fluid, lymph nodes, bone marrow and the lymphatic organs The lymphatic system helps fight infections and is The lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system.

Node dissection or a cervical lymphadenectomy. This surgery is also called a cervical lymph

The neck are called cervical lymph nodes. A neck dissection is a surgery to remove lymph nodes from the neck.

Lymph nodes back of neck location