In reply
I appreciate the opportunity to respond to Vikram's comments. He calls attention to the fact that I have incompletely explained my thinking. I believe that the preponderance of evidence suggests that the classic "functional" neck dissection in which the nodes from zones I to V are removed is adequate treatment for patients with limited neck metastases (1-2 nodes involved confined by the capsule of the nodes). These patients can be spared irradiation therapy.