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Retropharyngeal lymph node metastases in head and neck malignancies
Author(s) -
Coskun H. Hakan,
Ferlito Alfio,
Medina Jesus E.,
Robbins K. Thomas,
Rodrigo Juan P.,
Strojan Primož,
Suárez Carlos,
Takes Robert P.,
Woolgar Julia A.,
Shaha Ashok R.,
de Bree Remco,
Rinaldo Alessandra,
Silver Carl E.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.21526
Subject(s) - medicine , head and neck cancer , metastasis , head and neck , lymph node , lymph node metastasis , esophagus , radiology , cancer , oncology , surgery , pathology , radiation therapy
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. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010