Neck Dissection Cost in India

The cost of neck dissection in India typically ranges from $1,500 to $7,000 USD, depending on the hospital, city, and type of procedure.

Neck dissection is an operation to remove lymph nodes from the neck, usually as part of treatment for head and neck cancer. The cost usually depends on:

• Type of neck dissection: selective or radical.
• One or both sides
• Combined surgery: often done with removal of the main tumour.
• Hospital stay: several days, sometimes with intensive care.

Milton Keynes University Hospital explains that head and neck cancers can spread to lymph nodes in the neck. Removing the nodes treats cancer that has spread and helps plan further treatment.

• Selective neck dissection: removes only the groups of nodes most likely to be affected, and is used in most cases.
• Radical neck dissection: removes all the nodes between the jaw and collarbone, usually when several nodes are involved.

The operation is done under general anaesthetic through one or two neck incisions. Milton Keynes University Hospital reports that patients usually go home with one or two drains, which are removed later.

The typical hospital stay is three to seven days, and longer if the neck dissection is part of a larger operation.

Milton Keynes University Hospital describes these possible effects:

• Shoulder stiffness: if the accessory nerve is removed or bruised, lifting the arm can be harder; physiotherapy helps.
• Numbness of the neck skin: improves partly but may not return to normal.
• Blood collection (haematoma): may need further surgery.
• Chyle leak: lymph fluid leak, usually managed with a low-fat diet for two to three weeks.
• Weakness of the lower lip corner: from nerve injury.