To study the quality of life in Head and Neck Squamous cell carcinoma patients undergoing neck node dissection, with secondary analysis of diagnostic accuracy and reliability of USG based Node-RADS in clinically N0 neck.

HNSCC represents a significant proportion of cancer burden in India, accounting for approximately 40% of all malignancies. Neck dissection remains a vital component of curative treatment but is often associated with long-term morbidity affecting overall QoL. Despite its widespread use, there is limited prospective data in the Indian population regarding post-operative QoL outcomes and their predictors. Additionally, while Node-RADS is a novel radiological scoring system for lymph node assessment, its diagnostic accuracy and clinical reliability, especially in clinically N0 necks, have not been thoroughly validated. This study will be the first study to address these crucial gaps by evaluating both functional QoL outcomes and the diagnostic performance of imaging tools like Node-RADS and USG-guided FNAC. As the first prospective study of its kind in the Indian context, it has the potential to standardize neck node evaluation protocols and enhance individualized care, ultimately improving long-term outcomes and resource utilization in oncology practice