UNASSIGNED: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of elective neck dissection (END) with that of a more conservative approach comprising of observation plus therapeutic neck dissection for nodal relapse (OBS), by conducting a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compare these two surgical approaches in @entity1 . RCTs conducted prior to May 2015 were identified from electronic databases such as MEDLINE EMBASE and Cochrane Library. Reference lists within the retrieved articles were used as secondary reference sources. Disease-free survival (DFS) and @entity1349 ( @entity1349 ) were the primary outcome measures. Five RCTs with a combined subject population of 779 @entity1 were included. Meta-analysis of these 5 RCTs showed that DFS in END group was higher than that in the OBS group with a significant inter-group difference (Risk Ratio [RR]:1.33; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.06, 1.66); P=0.01; five trials, 779 @entity1 ]. However, there was a significant statistical heterogeneity among the studies (I-squared=56%, P=0.06). Four studies had reported on @entity1349 . Meta-analysis of these 4 RCTs revealed a higher @entity1349 in the END group as compared to that that in the OBS group with a significant inter-group difference (RR: 1.18; 95% CI 1.07, 1.29); P=0.0009; four trials, 708 @entity1 ]. The statistical heterogeneity of these 4 studies is small (I-squared=14%, P=0.32). The results of this meta-analysis suggest that END at the time of resection of the @entity5 confers a DFS and @entity1349 benefit in @entity1 with clinically node-negative @entity5 .

Elective versus therapeutic neck dissection in node-negative XXXX : Evidence from five randomized controlled trials.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'patients'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['primary tumor', 'oral cancer'] @entity1349 :: ('MESH:D011475', 'Disease') :: ['OS', 'overall survival']
@entity5 :: (MESH:D009369,Disease) :: ['oral cancer']
