Re-examining predictors of pathologic lymph node positivity in clinically node negative oral cavity cancer

•Tumor grade and lymphovascular invasion are the strongest predictors of pN+ in patients with cN0 oral cavity cancer.•Depth of invasion (DOI) predicts for pN+ in cN0 oral tongue cancer, but not for other oral cavity cancer sites.•Using nomograms based on these factors, 40% of cN0 oral cavity patients with DOI ≥ 2mm have <15% risk of pN+.