how to delete the whole XMLNode

hi

   my code is like that:  

XmlNodeList nodeList = root.SelectNodes("//item[@key='" + Key + "']");              
                if (nodeList.Count > 1)
                {
                    foreach (XmlNode item in nodeList)
                    {                        
                        item.RemoveAll();
                    }
                } 

     then i found the xml file like

  <item />
  <item />

     may i ask is it possible to delete all,inclduing   <item />?

    thank u very much

best regards

martin