Radiotherapy for retropharyngeal and retrostyloid lymph node groups: When and who? A review of the literature
Main Article Content
Keywords
head and neck cancer, radiotherapy, neck lymph level VII, retropharyngeal lymph nodes, retrostyloid lymph nodes
Abstract
Radiation therapy has a central role in the management of head and neck malignancies, either as adjuvant treatment after surgery or as definitive therapy. Within this field of study, a still poorly explored and matter-of-debate topic is the indication for irradiation of retropahyngeal lymph nodes, corresponding to neck levels VIIa and VIIb. We have conducted a systematic review with the objective of elucidating elective irradiation criteria for these nodal groups and to issue recommendations about its inclusion in the practice of radiation oncology.
