CT of soft-tissue structures of the neck

Soft tissue structures of the neck include nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx, thyroid, lateral pharyngeal space, and others. Computed tomography (CT) has a significant contribution to the diagnosis of the diseases of the soft tissue structures of the neck. The use of two planes, coronal and axial, in the region of the nasopharynx and oropharynx and axial plane at the level of the laryngopharynx, has added new dimensions, and soft tissue detail obtained by its use has yielded invaluable additional diagnostic information. CT has expanded our knowledge of the diseases of the soft tissue structures of the neck, but has not as yet replaced the more commonly used techniques. The disease process in the different areas of the soft tissues of the neck will be discussed in detail.