title: Evaluation and staging of the neck in patients with malignant disease.
abstract: This article presents an overview of the evaluation and staging of the neck in the context of malignant disease. The current tumor-nodes-metastasis (TNM) nodal classification is reviewed followed by a brief discussion of the common malignant processes encountered in the head and neck and their associated risk factors for cervical metastasis. Common imaging modalities, such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, Computed tomography, and positron emission tomography, for the investigation of the neck are also summarized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 7500 Cambridge Street, Suite 6510, Houston, TX 77054, USA. Electronic address: jonathan.shum@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Shum
authors.affiliation: Trauma Service and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service, Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Head and Neck Surgical Associates, 1849 Northwest Kearney, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97209, USA.
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Dierks
mesh_terms: D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
keywords: Head and neck cancer; MRI; Neck evaluation; Neck imaging; Neck staging; PET; Squamous cell carcinoma; Ultrasound