Lymph node metastasis in level IIb in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a multicentric, longitudinal, retrospective analysis.
Carlos-Miguel Chiesa-EstombaJuan David UrazanGiovanni CammarotoGiuditta MannelliGabriele MolteniVirginia DallariJerome R LechienMiguel Mayo-YanezJosé Ángel González-GarcíaJon Alexander Sistiaga-SuarezManuel TucciaroneTareck AyadGiuseppe MeccarielloPublished in: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (2022)
According to our results, level IIb ND should be considered in patients who underwent therapeutic ND with positive LN metastasis in level IIa or III, advanced oropharyngeal primary tumors, and patients with ENE, independently of p16 status. Prospective data are necessary to definitively ensure the safety of omitting ipsilateral or contralateral level IIb ND in cN - patients with early stage disease.