You have not mentioned the means of diagnosis to this point. An MRI or CT of the neck with contrast will indicate involved nodes. Your post makes me feel like someone is making a decision if there is involvement based on palpation of an area and that only would (if the fingers are highly skilled and experienced) find enlarged nodes of significant involvement. It would not disclose those involved nodes which have not reached a size or density to be distinguished as "at risk" or suspicious by palpation. That an MRI is scheduled for the future is completely necessary to know what