A Study of the Use of Fat Flap Reconstruction to Reduce Neck Injury After Cancer Treatment

This study is examining whether using a fat tissue flap during neck dissection surgery can reduce injury to major blood vessels and surrounding structures in head and neck cancer patients who need salvage surgery after radiation therapy. **You may be eligible if...** - You are 18 years old or older - You have been diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (such as throat or voice box cancer) - Your primary treatment was radiation therapy, with or without chemotherapy - You now need neck surgery because cancer persists or has come back in the lymph nodes - Your surgeon has determined that extra tissue coverage (a fat flap) is needed to protect the carotid artery or replace missing skin **You may NOT be eligible if...** - The cancer has also come back in the original tumor site (mouth/throat lining), not just the neck lymph nodes Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.