title: Evaluation of cervical lymph nodes in head and neck cancer with CT and MRI: tips, traps, and a systematic approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this article, we present a 4-step approach to evaluating lymph nodes in the setting of head and neck squamous cell and thyroid carcinoma and highlight important tips and traps.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence and extent of nodal metastases in head and neck cancer has a great impact on treatment and prognosis. Pretreatment CT and MRI of the neck are commonly performed to evaluate for nodal metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, Erwin Rd, Durham, NC 27710, USA. jennykh@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jenny K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: Jyotsna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vanka
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Glastonbury
mesh_terms: D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009333:Neck; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed