Clinical implications of the neck in salivary gland disease

Neck manifestations from salivary gland tissue are most commonly related to inflammation and obstruction of the glands. However, various benign and malignant processes are also seen along a continuum of clinical presentation and behavior. Preoperative diagnostics, including imaging and fine needle aspiration, are key elements in treatment planning, even in the absence of absolute histologic confirmation of tumors. Benign tumor implants in the neck can be managed with conservative surgery, whereas aggressive surgical management, including neck dissection and adjuvant therapy, is generally advocated for malignancy.