Incidence and predictive factors of retropharyngeal lymph node metastases in patients with oropharyngeal cancer undergoing multimodality treatment planning imaging.

Multimodality treatment planning imaging reveals a high rate of RPLN metastases from OPC compared to diagnostic CT alone. Patients with tonsil, soft palate, or posterior pharyngeal wall primaries or disease extending to the soft palate or vallecula appear at higher risk.