This surgery involves removing some or all of the lymph nodes on one or both sides of the neck. Lymph nodes are small structures found throughout the neck that are the first line of defense against infections or tumors. The incision for the dissection depends on the location of the nodes, and its length will be explained for each case.

The lymph nodes are removed through the wound, which also depends on the site of origin of the tumor. In most cases, the other organs in the neck are spared (modified dissection), but sometimes it is necessary to remove other structures such as the sternocleidomastoid muscle, vessels such as the internal jugular vein, and nerves such as the spinal nerve, due to invasion by the tumor (radical dissection). This procedure is performed under general anesthesia on a scheduled basis. Hospitalization usually lasts 2-3 days, a plastic drainage tube is always left in place for at least 7 days, and the stitches are removed 10-12 days after surgery.

The surgery aims to remove all lymph nodes that may be affected by the tumor in order to eradicate the disease as much as possible and prevent its spread to other organs.