RESUMO
BACKGROUND: To assess the viability of the single transverse neck incision (STNI) for modified radical neck dissection and to analyze the yield of lymph nodes using this approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study in the Department of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology at our Tertiary Cancer Care Centre from November 2013 to May 2017. RESULTS: A total of 257 patients underwent surgical treatment for malignant tumors of the head and neck which included 265 modified radical neck dissections (eight bilateral and 249 unilateral). Average of total dissected nodal yield was 37.07. Average yield of positive neck nodes was 2.78. CONCLUSION: Single transverse neck incision is an acceptable technique for modified radical neck dissection as it provides adequate surgical exposure for achieving optimal nodal clearance with little technical difficulty.