[Imaging-based anatomy of the neck -- multi-slice CT and MRI]

Purpose of this article is to provide accomplishments of the anatomy in the evaluation of pathologic findings is not a mandatory knowledge of every single anatomical structure, but rather a correct attribution of pathology to a single space of the neck. Only with an exact assignment to these spaces the differential diagnoses can be limited to a reasonable quantity to provide support for the referring physician in the ongoing treatment, especially for the planning of the various existing neck dissections. There are multifaceted descriptions of the anatomy of the head and neck region regarding an axial scanning with CT and MRI. Because of their intricacy it is difficult to use these classifications in a daily routine setting. Classifications with nearly as many spaces as anatomical structures provide no adequate support. Based on the various spaces of the head and neck region and additionally the imaging-based lymph node classification the aim of this work is to provide reasonable support in the daily clinical routine regarding the current literature and our own experience.