Appraisal of the AJCC 8th edition pathologic staging modifications for HPV−positive oropharyngeal cancer, a study of the National Cancer Data Base

Using NCDB data for validation, the AJCC 8th ed. pathologic staging system offers much improved hazard discrimination and prognostication in HPV oropharyngeal cancer, with the majority of cases reclassified as pStage I. Of note, only pN2 offered hazard discrimination within nodal staging and presence of pathologic extranodal extension has a modest negative effect on survival.