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Upper Neck Spaces: Anatomy and Pathology

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Clinical Neuroradiology

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Abstract

Neuroradiologists are often involuntarily confronted with abnormalities in the neck. Due to its complex anatomy and the wide range of potential pathologies, it might seem hard to discern the correct diagnosis at first. However, once it becomes possible to pinpoint the lesion’s location correctly, a narrow differential diagnosis of common lesions can often be proposed. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the different deep neck spaces relevant in clinical neuroradiology, review the most common lesions in every space, and give practical guidance to locate and recognize them. Anatomy and pathology of the oral cavity and larynx are not covered in this chapter, and the role of radiology in sinonasal, nasopharyngeal, and parotid gland lesions, is covered elsewhere. The imaging features of skull base lesions are described in the chapter “Skull-Base Tumours and Related Disorders”.

This publication is endorsed by: European Society of Neuroradiology (www.esnr.org).

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Abbreviations

ADC:

Apparent diffusion coefficient

CT:

Computed tomography

DWI:

Diffusion-weighted imaging

Gd:

Gadolinium

GRE:

Gradient echo

IV:

Intravenous

MISME:

Multiple inherited schwannomas, meningiomas, and ependymomas

MRA:

Magnetic resonance angiography

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

NF:

Neurofibromatosis

PET:

Positron emission tomography

PLL:

Posterior longitudinal ligament

PNST:

Peripheral nerve sheath tumor

PPS:

Parapharyngeal space

SMT:

Stylomandibular tunnel

STIR:

Short tau inversion recovery

T1-WI:

T1-weighted image

T2-WI:

T2-weighted image

TOF:

Time-of-flight

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, AZ St-Jan Brugge-Oostende, Bruges, Belgium

    Stephanie Vanden Bossche & Jan W. Casselman

  2. Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium

    Stephanie Vanden Bossche

  3. Department of Radiology, GZA Hospitals, Antwerp, Belgium

    Jan W. Casselman

  4. Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Jan W. Casselman

  5. Department of Radiology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium

    Nicolas M. Salamon

Authors
  1. Stephanie Vanden Bossche
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  2. Jan W. Casselman
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  3. Nicolas M. Salamon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephanie Vanden Bossche .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Frederik Barkhof

  2. National Hosp.f Neurology & Neurosurgery, UCL National Hosp.f Neurology & Neurosurgery, London, UK

    Rolf Jager

  3. Division of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Vienna Division of Neuroradiology, Wien, Austria

    Majda Thurnher

  4. Department of Neuroradiology, Hospital Vall d’Hebrón Department of Neuroradiology, Barcelona, Spain

    Alex Rovira Cañellas

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Radiology, AZ St-Jan Brugge-Oostende, Bruges, Belgium

    Jan W. Casselman

  2. Department of Radiology, AZ St-Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium

    Jan W. Casselman

  3. Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Jan W. Casselman

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Vanden Bossche, S., Casselman, J.W., Salamon, N.M. (2021). Upper Neck Spaces: Anatomy and Pathology. In: Barkhof, F., Jager, R., Thurnher, M., Rovira Cañellas, A. (eds) Clinical Neuroradiology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61423-6_89-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61423-6_89-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-61423-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-61423-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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