Portland, that's correct. The ENT found no abnormality in the oropharynx, though it was a difficult scope as Kris did not tolerate the scope well.
Yes, his tongue was a pale pasty cream colour, not nice and pink as is normal. His tongue also deviated to the right, he was unable to stick it straight out. This was because the enlarged lymph node was pressing on the hypoglossal nerve causing a palsy or paralysis of the muscles on the right side of his tongue. By this stage also his speech was slurred due to the tongue palsy. Kris had been visiting his Dr for 6 months with severe ear pain by this stage. I insisted on a MRI at this stage as I knew something was seriously wrong. But, I never imagined a tumour in his oropharynx.
Hope you get answers soon and that you too are not facing this.
Tammy

Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!