Head and Neck Cancer London Post-operative Assessment

Following a surgical resection the specimen will be examined both macro and microscopically by the histopathologist. This will give crucial information regarding prognosis and what further treatment is planned. 

Our multidisciplinary team will advise the patient to have post operative radiotherapy to the neck if:

  • Two or more lymph nodes in the neck contain Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) confined within their capsule
  • If any lymph node contains SCC that has escaped the capsule (extracapsular spread).

Our multidisciplinary team will also advise the patient to have post operative radiotherapy to the primary site if:

  • The tumour exists at the margin of the resection specimen (incomplete resection)
  • The primary tumour was large (T3 or greater)