ABSTRACT
When assessing patients it is vital to formulate a differential diagnosis based on the initial history and examination. This guides decision-making in investigating patients swiftly and appropriately. Whilst primary malignancy in neck lumps can occur, the majority of malignant neck lumps are metastatic and immediate thought must be given to identifying the source of the primary tumour. The structures of the neck including the majority of relevant cranial nerves, vessels, muscles and bones are derived from the branchial arches. When assessing patients it is vital to formulate a differential diagnosis based on the initial history and examination. Whilst the anatomy for each subsite of the upper aerodigestive tract is considered in detail in each specific chapter of this book, this chapter provides an overview to ‘set the scene’ for a general assessment of the patient referred to a head and neck surgery clinic.
