The evaluation of cervical lymph nodes is one of the main indications for performing CT and MR imaging of the neck. Imaging may be done for evaluation of an unknown neck mass, but more commonly the neck is imaged to evaluate potential metastasis from a known mucosal malignancy. In these patients, the radiologist is asked to assess the presence of nodal metastasis, determine if extracapsular tumor spread is present, and if present, the relationship of this disease to adjacent critical structures, such as the carotid arteries and the skull base.<sup>41Som P.M. Detection of metastasis in cervical lymph nodes: CT and MR criteria and differential diagnosis AJR Am J Roentgenol 1992 ;  158 : 961-969

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 43Som P.M. Lymph nodes Head and Neck Imaging St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book (1996).  772-793

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Because of the dominance of interest in staging of metastatic carcinoma the initial discussion focuses on this disease. CT and MR imaging characteristics of both malignant and nonmalignant nodal diseases are reviewed and the differential diagnosis of nodal pathologies for specific imaging findings are discussed. A recently proposed imaging-based nodal classification for metastatic nodal diseases from head and neck cancer is also described.<sup>47Som P.M., Curtin H.D., Mancuso A.A. An imaging-based classification for the cervical nodes designed as an adjunct to recent clinically based nodal classifications Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999 ;  125 : 388-396

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup>