Table 3.IV.

Clinical and pathological N for p16 negative oropharyngeal Carcinoma, Eighth Edition TNM (from Amid et al., 2017 ⁴³, mod.).

T category	N criteria
Nx	Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0	No regional lymph node metastasis
N1	Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, 3 cm or smaller in greatest dimension and extranodal extension negative
N2	Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node larger than 3 cm but not larger than 6 cm in greatest dimension and extranodal extension negative; or metastases in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, none larger than 6 cm in greatest dimension and extranodal extension negative; or metastasis in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, none larger than 6 cm in greatest dimension and extranodal extension negative
N2a	Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node larger than 3 cm but not larger than 6 cm in greatest dimension and extranodal extension negative
N2b	Metastasis in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, none larger than 6 cm in greatest dimension and extranodal extension negative
N2c	Metastasis in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, none larger than 6 cm in greatest dimension and extranodal extension negative
N3	Metastasis in a lymph node larger than 6 cm in greatest dimension and extranodal extension negative; or metastasis in any lymph node(s) and clinical overt extranodal extension positive
N3a	Metastasis in a lymph node larger than 6 cm in greatest dimension and extranodal extension negative
N3b	Metastasis in any node(s) and clinical overt extranodal extension positive