The retropharyngeal lymph nodes lie behind the upper pharynx in the retropharyngeal space, in front of the upper cervical vertebrae. A lateral group (nodes of Rouviere) is the most consistent. They are prominent in children and tend to shrink with age.
| Location | Retropharyngeal space, between the pharyngeal constrictors (buccopharyngeal fascia) and the prevertebral fascia, at the level of the atlas and axis |
|---|---|
| Receives lymph from |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
Filter lymph from the nasopharynx, back of the nose and middle ear region.
In young children, infection of these nodes can progress to a retropharyngeal abscess, presenting with fever, neck stiffness, drooling and difficulty swallowing, and threatening the airway. The retropharyngeal space can carry infection down into the mediastinum. These nodes are a common site of spread from nasopharyngeal cancer and are only seen on imaging.
A pus collection from suppurating retropharyngeal nodes, mostly in children under 5, causing fever, neck stiffness and airway compromise.
Early spread of nasopharyngeal cancer to the lateral retropharyngeal nodes, seen on CT or MRI.
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