Comparing Technical Feasibility of Non-robotic Retroauricular Versus Transcervical Approach Neck Dissection in Oral Cancers—a Preliminary Single Institute Experience

Recent advances in minimal access/invasive surgeries in head and neck (robotic/endoscopic assisted) allow neck dissection without a visible scar through a retroauricular approach unlike conventional approach giving visible scar and its sequelae. We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data of 80 neck dissections in 72 patients from April 2017 to June 2018 for all newly diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity. We compared between the operative and postoperative outcomes in open- and endoscopic-assisted retroauricular approach (RA) in these patients undergoing neck dissections. Thirty-two out of seventy-two patients underwent retroauricular (RA) approach neck dissection while 40/72 patients underwent conventional open approach neck dissection. RA group had more early staged oral cancers 20/32 (62.5%) as compared to 9/40 (22.5%) in the open approach (p = 0.025). Average nodal yield and nodal yield according to levels were not statistically different in both groups. Nodal failure in both groups was also not statistically significant (p = 0.82). Postoperative complications like marginal weakness, hematoma, microvascular-related problems, and wound problems were not significantly related to the type of approach. We recommend in select group of early oral cancers the retroauricular-assisted neck dissection as minimally invasive, cost-effective, and oncologically safe approach for a scar-free neck surgery.