The presence of nodal metastasis in head and neck cancer is an important prognostic factor and crucial in making critical decisions regarding postoperative radiation treatment and follow up. The final documentation of nodal metastasis is still based on routine histopathological evaluation of the lymph nodes in the neck. The newer technologies including immunohistochemistry, molecular analysis and subserial sectioning may increase the detection of lymph node micrometastases in patients pathologically staged N0 in cancer of oral cavity and oropharynx.