Sparing of high retropharyngeal nodal basins in patients with unilateral oropharyngeal carcinoma treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy

Purpose The introduction of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has facilitated dose painting and sparing of uninvolved/low-risk nodal basins in head and neck cancers. In oropharynx cancer (OPC), the need for elective coverage of uninvolved high contralateral retropharyngeal (RP) nodes and the risk associated with sparing this region remain unclear. We examined outcomes of OPC patients treated with IMRT and omission of contralateral high RP...