[1] The aim of the procedure is to remove lymph nodes from one side of the neck into which cancer cells may have migrated.

Metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma into the lymph nodes of the neck reduce survival and is the most important factor in the spread of the disease.

The metastases may originate from SCC of the upper aerodigestive tract, including the oral cavity, tongue, nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx, as well as the thyroid, parotid and posterior scalp.

A further Level VII to denote lymph node groups in the superior mediastinum is no longer used.

Instead, lymph nodes in other non-neck regions are referred to by the name of their specific nodal groups.