Surgery to remove neck lymph nodes (neck dissection)

Surgery to remove lymph nodes in the neck is called a neck dissection. Lymph nodes are also called lymph glands. They are part of the lymphatic system. When you might have a neck dissection You might have surgery to remove lymph nodes in your neck. This is usually if there is a chance that the cancer might have spread there.The lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system. Cancer cells can first travel to the nearest lymph nodes if they break away from a tumour. So, your doctor removes them and checks for cancer cells. Find out more about the lymphatic systemWhat happens? You have the operation while you are asleep (under general anaesthetic).You might need to have lymph nodes removed from one side ofyour neck or from both sides. Removing the lymph nodes reduces the chance of the cancerspreading or coming back. There are different types of neck dissection, including: partial or selective neck dissectionmodified radical neck dissection andradical neck dissectionHow you have a neck disse...