Malignant retropharyngeal space (RPS) nodes: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa) RPS nodes from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPCa), posterior wall oropharyngeal, or hypopharyngeal primary SCCa
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
Nuclear Medicine Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Selected References
Chen J et al: Evaluation of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of retropharyngeal lymph node metastases in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. Cancer Manag Res. 12:1733-9, 2020
Iyizoba-Ebozue Z et al: Incidence and patterns of retropharyngeal lymph node involvement in oropharyngeal carcinoma. Radiother Oncol. 142:92-9, 2020
Li WZ et al: MRI-detected residual retropharyngeal lymph node after intensity-modulated radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: prognostic value and a nomogram for the pretherapy prediction of it. Radiother Oncol. 145:101-8, 2020
So TY et al: Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging for discrimination of benign and malignant retropharyngeal nodes. Neuroradiology. 62(12):1667-76, 2020
Huang L et al: Prognostic value of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis laterality in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and a proposed modification to the UICC/AJCC N staging system. Radiother Oncol. 140:90-7, 2019
Iyizoba-Ebozue Z et al: Retropharyngeal lymph node involvement in oropharyngeal carcinoma: impact upon risk of distant metastases and survival outcomes. Cancers (Basel). 12(1), 2019
Oikawa Y et al: Management of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in oral cancer. Oral Oncol. 99:104471, 2019
Teshima M et al: Impact of retropharyngeal lymph node dissection in the surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer. Head Neck. 41(6):1738-44, 2019
Loke SC et al: Superior cervical ganglion mimicking retropharyngeal adenopathy in head and neck cancer patients: MRI features with anatomic, histologic, and surgical correlation. Neuroradiology. 58(1):45-50, 2016
Suzuki T et al: Effectiveness of superselective intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy targeting retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 273(10):3331-6, 2016
Wu IS et al: Is unenhanced 18F-FDG-PET/CT better than enhanced CT in the detection of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma? Ear Nose Throat J. 95(4-5):178-84, 2016
Byeon HK et al: Transoral robotic retropharyngeal lymph node dissection with or without lateral oropharyngectomy. J Craniofac Surg. 24(4):1156-61, 2013
Gunn GB et al: The impact of radiographic retropharyngeal adenopathy in oropharyngeal cancer. Cancer. 119(17):3162-9, 2013
Tang C et al: Radiologic assessment of retropharyngeal node involvement in oropharyngeal carcinomas stratified by HPV status. Radiother Oncol. 109(2):293-6, 2013
Harada R et al: The incidence and significance of retropharyngeal lymph node metastases in hypopharyngeal cancer. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 42(9):794-9, 2012
Ho FC et al: Patterns of regional lymph node metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a meta-analysis of clinical evidence. BMC Cancer. 12:98, 2012
Coskun HH et al: Retropharyngeal lymph node metastases in head and neck malignancies. Head Neck. 33(10):1520-9, 2011
Chen YB et al: Optimization of magnetic resonance sequences in lymph node staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Chin Med J (Engl). 123(4):443-6, 2010
Deng XY et al: Analysis of cervical and retropharyngeal lymph node metastases in the patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Chin J Cancer. 29(2):189-93, 2010
Tauzin M et al: PET-CT staging of the neck in cancers of the oropharynx: patterns of regional and retropharyngeal nodal metastasis. World J Surg Oncol. 8:70, 2010
Chu HR et al: Additional diagnostic value of (18)F-FDG PET-CT in detecting retropharyngeal nodal metastases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 141(5):633-8, 2009
Kamiyama R et al: Significance of retropharyngeal lymph node dissection in hypopharyngeal cancer. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 39(10):632-7, 2009
Kaplan SL et al: The role of MR imaging in detecting nodal disease in thyroidectomy patients with rising thyroglobulin levels. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 30(3):608-12, 2009
Tang L et al: The volume to be irradiated during selective neck irradiation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: analysis of the spread patterns in lymph nodes by magnetic resonance imaging. Cancer. 115(3):680-8, 2009
Tham IW et al: Retropharyngeal nodal metastasis related to higher rate of distant metastasis in patients with N0 and N1 nasopharyngeal cancer. Head Neck. 31(4):468-74, 2009
Umeda M et al: Metastasis to the lateral retropharyngeal lymph node from squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity: report of three cases. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 38(9):1004-8, 2009
Wang XS et al: Patterns of retropharyngeal node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 73(1):194-201, 2009
Mao YP et al: The N staging system in nasopharyngeal carcinoma with radiation therapy oncology group guidelines for lymph node levels based on magnetic resonance imaging. Clin Cancer Res. 14(22):7497-503, 2008
Tang L et al: Retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma detected by magnetic resonance imaging : prognostic value and staging categories. Cancer. 113(2):347-54, 2008
Dirix P et al: Prognostic influence of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 65(3):739-44, 2006
Shimizu K et al: Distribution and impact of lymph node metastases in oropharyngeal cancer. Acta Otolaryngol. 126(8):872-7, 2006
Gross ND et al: Impact of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 130(2):169-73, 2004
King AD et al: Neck node metastases from nasopharyngeal carcinoma: MR imaging of patterns of disease. Head Neck. 22(3):275-81, 2000
Kimura Y et al: Lateral retropharyngeal node metastasis from carcinoma of the upper gingiva and maxillary sinus. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 19(7):1221-4, 1998
Lam WW et al: Retropharyngeal lymphadenopathy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Head Neck. 19(3):176-81, 1997
McLaughlin MP et al: Retropharyngeal adenopathy as a predictor of outcome in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Head Neck. 17(3):190-8, 1995
Hasegawa Y et al: Retropharyngeal node dissection in cancer of the oropharynx and hypopharynx. Head Neck. 16(2):173-80, 1994
Watarai J et al: CT of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from maxillary carcinoma. Acta Radiol. 34(5):492-5, 1993
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TERMINOLOGY
Definitions
Malignant retropharyngeal space (RPS) nodes: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa) RPS nodes from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPCa), posterior wall oropharyngeal, or hypopharyngeal primary SCCa
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
Nuclear Medicine Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Selected References
Chen J et al: Evaluation of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of retropharyngeal lymph node metastases in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. Cancer Manag Res. 12:1733-9, 2020
Iyizoba-Ebozue Z et al: Incidence and patterns of retropharyngeal lymph node involvement in oropharyngeal carcinoma. Radiother Oncol. 142:92-9, 2020
Li WZ et al: MRI-detected residual retropharyngeal lymph node after intensity-modulated radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: prognostic value and a nomogram for the pretherapy prediction of it. Radiother Oncol. 145:101-8, 2020
So TY et al: Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging for discrimination of benign and malignant retropharyngeal nodes. Neuroradiology. 62(12):1667-76, 2020
Huang L et al: Prognostic value of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis laterality in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and a proposed modification to the UICC/AJCC N staging system. Radiother Oncol. 140:90-7, 2019
Iyizoba-Ebozue Z et al: Retropharyngeal lymph node involvement in oropharyngeal carcinoma: impact upon risk of distant metastases and survival outcomes. Cancers (Basel). 12(1), 2019
Oikawa Y et al: Management of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in oral cancer. Oral Oncol. 99:104471, 2019
Teshima M et al: Impact of retropharyngeal lymph node dissection in the surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer. Head Neck. 41(6):1738-44, 2019
Loke SC et al: Superior cervical ganglion mimicking retropharyngeal adenopathy in head and neck cancer patients: MRI features with anatomic, histologic, and surgical correlation. Neuroradiology. 58(1):45-50, 2016
Suzuki T et al: Effectiveness of superselective intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy targeting retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 273(10):3331-6, 2016
Wu IS et al: Is unenhanced 18F-FDG-PET/CT better than enhanced CT in the detection of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma? Ear Nose Throat J. 95(4-5):178-84, 2016
Byeon HK et al: Transoral robotic retropharyngeal lymph node dissection with or without lateral oropharyngectomy. J Craniofac Surg. 24(4):1156-61, 2013
Gunn GB et al: The impact of radiographic retropharyngeal adenopathy in oropharyngeal cancer. Cancer. 119(17):3162-9, 2013
Tang C et al: Radiologic assessment of retropharyngeal node involvement in oropharyngeal carcinomas stratified by HPV status. Radiother Oncol. 109(2):293-6, 2013
Harada R et al: The incidence and significance of retropharyngeal lymph node metastases in hypopharyngeal cancer. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 42(9):794-9, 2012
Ho FC et al: Patterns of regional lymph node metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a meta-analysis of clinical evidence. BMC Cancer. 12:98, 2012
Coskun HH et al: Retropharyngeal lymph node metastases in head and neck malignancies. Head Neck. 33(10):1520-9, 2011
Chen YB et al: Optimization of magnetic resonance sequences in lymph node staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Chin Med J (Engl). 123(4):443-6, 2010
Deng XY et al: Analysis of cervical and retropharyngeal lymph node metastases in the patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Chin J Cancer. 29(2):189-93, 2010
Tauzin M et al: PET-CT staging of the neck in cancers of the oropharynx: patterns of regional and retropharyngeal nodal metastasis. World J Surg Oncol. 8:70, 2010
Chu HR et al: Additional diagnostic value of (18)F-FDG PET-CT in detecting retropharyngeal nodal metastases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 141(5):633-8, 2009
Kamiyama R et al: Significance of retropharyngeal lymph node dissection in hypopharyngeal cancer. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 39(10):632-7, 2009
Kaplan SL et al: The role of MR imaging in detecting nodal disease in thyroidectomy patients with rising thyroglobulin levels. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 30(3):608-12, 2009
Tang L et al: The volume to be irradiated during selective neck irradiation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: analysis of the spread patterns in lymph nodes by magnetic resonance imaging. Cancer. 115(3):680-8, 2009
Tham IW et al: Retropharyngeal nodal metastasis related to higher rate of distant metastasis in patients with N0 and N1 nasopharyngeal cancer. Head Neck. 31(4):468-74, 2009
Umeda M et al: Metastasis to the lateral retropharyngeal lymph node from squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity: report of three cases. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 38(9):1004-8, 2009
Wang XS et al: Patterns of retropharyngeal node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 73(1):194-201, 2009
Mao YP et al: The N staging system in nasopharyngeal carcinoma with radiation therapy oncology group guidelines for lymph node levels based on magnetic resonance imaging. Clin Cancer Res. 14(22):7497-503, 2008
Tang L et al: Retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma detected by magnetic resonance imaging : prognostic value and staging categories. Cancer. 113(2):347-54, 2008
Dirix P et al: Prognostic influence of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 65(3):739-44, 2006
Shimizu K et al: Distribution and impact of lymph node metastases in oropharyngeal cancer. Acta Otolaryngol. 126(8):872-7, 2006
Gross ND et al: Impact of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 130(2):169-73, 2004
King AD et al: Neck node metastases from nasopharyngeal carcinoma: MR imaging of patterns of disease. Head Neck. 22(3):275-81, 2000
Kimura Y et al: Lateral retropharyngeal node metastasis from carcinoma of the upper gingiva and maxillary sinus. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 19(7):1221-4, 1998
Lam WW et al: Retropharyngeal lymphadenopathy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Head Neck. 19(3):176-81, 1997
McLaughlin MP et al: Retropharyngeal adenopathy as a predictor of outcome in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Head Neck. 17(3):190-8, 1995
Hasegawa Y et al: Retropharyngeal node dissection in cancer of the oropharynx and hypopharynx. Head Neck. 16(2):173-80, 1994
Watarai J et al: CT of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from maxillary carcinoma. Acta Radiol. 34(5):492-5, 1993
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