Table 1 Deep spaces of the neck with contents and tumours which can arise
From: Cross-sectional imaging in cancers of the head and neck: how we review and report
| Space | Contents | Tumours | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pharyngeal mucosa space |
Mucosa with minor salivary glands Lymphoid tissue Pharyngobasilar fascia Levator and constrictor muscles Cartilaginous eustachian tube |
Squamous cell carcinoma of pharynx Minor salivary gland tumours, lymphoma |
| 2 | Parapharyngeal space |
Fat Minor salivary glands Trigeminal nerve (V3) Lymph nodes Internal maxillary / ascending pharyngeal artery |
Lipomas, liposarcoma Minor salivary gland tumours Schwannomas Soft tissue sarcoma Metastatic lymph nodes |
| 3 | Masticator space |
Muscles of mastication Mandibular ramus and body Inferior alveolar nerve |
Sarcoma of muscle or bone, metastases Lymphomas, direct spread of carcinoma, Minor salivary tumour, |
| 4 | Parotid space |
Parotid gland Intraparotid lymph nodes Facial nerve (VII) External carotid artery / retromandibular vein |
Salivary gland tumours like mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenoid cystic cancer etc. Metastatic adenopathy Lymphomas Oncocytomas, schwannomas, lipomas |
| 5 | Carotid space |
Cranial nerves IX-XII Sympathetic nerves Jugular chain nodes Carotid artery / jugular vein |
Schwannomas Neurofibromas Paragangliomas Metastatic adenopathy |
| 6 | Retropharyngeal space |
Lymph nodes Fat Ectopic salivary gland tissue |
Metastatic lymphadenopathy, lymphomas Salivary gland tumours Rhabdomyosarcomas |
| 7 | Perivertebral, vertebral |
Vertebrae Prevertebrale muscles Blood vessels Paraspinal muscles Phrenic nerve |
Primary and secondary bone tumours Plasmacytoma Sarcomas, chordoma Lymphomas Metastatic lymph nodes |
| 8 | Visceral space (infrahyoid neck) |
Oesophagus Thyroid glands Parathyroid glands Trachea Nerves and vessels |
Squamous cell carcinomas Minor salivary gland tumours Sarcomas Thyroid gland tumours Parathyroid tumours Metastases |