Neck dissections are a matter of some controversy in treatment of OC. Your husband's diagnosis seems similar to mine. I called mine T2, but it was 2 cm, right on the border of T1 and T2. I had 1 obvious node, but when they did the neck dissection, they found a second node with a microscopic trace of cancer.

There appear to be two distinct schools of thought on neck dissections. Probably more, but these are the ones I have discerned. First is the school that your husband's doctors appear to follow -- ND is unnecessary where N0 or N1 and primary is small. Radiation will kill the cancerous cells in the lymph nodes. Neck dissection is reserved for situations where there is an incomplete response to the radiation/chemo regimen, or where recurrence arises.

The second school, which my doctors followed, is more of a "belt and suspenders" approach, relying on both surgical removal of the lymphatic pathways that OC uses to spread, and the radiation/chemo to kill any stray cells. Of this school, some prefer to do the surgery after treatment, while others do it before radiation and chemo. I had the latter.

There are pluses and minuses to both approaches, so tough to say that one is "better" than the other. Becaues neck dissections can and do have residual effects on shoulder and neck function and sensation, many doctors prefer to hold that surgery in reserve. I have ongoing shoulder and neck pain/stiffness, but it is very manageable. Would I have obtained the same results without the ND? Maybe yes, maybe no. Cancer free and doing pretty much anything I want today, so I will thank my lucky stars.

Hope this helps.