Controversy among head and neck oncologists has centered for many years around the appropriate and inappropriate use of cervical lymph node biopsy. Many authors contend that untimely cervical node biopsy, at best, is unnecessary, and, at worst, may lead to early recurrence and death. More recent data show that adjuvant radiation therapy may ameliorate the adverse effects of lymph node biopsy. At present, although cervical lymph node biopsy is not recommended for the diagnosis of head and neck cancer, it does not appear to shorten survival if appropriate management is administered subsequently.