title: Retropharyngeal lymph node metastases in head and neck malignancies.
abstract: Retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) metastasis of primary head and neck cancer often receives less consideration than lymph node metastasis in the neck. With improvements in imaging techniques and reports of surgical pathology, there is an improved understanding of the risk and subsequently the need for treatment of RPLNs. The rates of RPLN metastasis from carcinomas of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, postcricoid region, maxillary sinus, and cervical esophagus are sufficiently high to warrant routine treatment, either electively or therapeutically, of this region. Through improved diagnostic techniques and heightened awareness of RPLN metastasis, patients at risk of having these metastases can be treated more effectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Uludag University School of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: H Hakan
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: Alfio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferlito
authors.forename: Jesus E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: K Thomas
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: Juan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
authors.forename: Primož
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strojan
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Takes
authors.forename: Julia A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Woolgar
authors.forename: Ashok R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Shaha
authors.forename: Remco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Bree
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rinaldo
authors.forename: Carl E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010614:Pharynx