Establishing the differential diagnosis of neck lesions.

A thorough physical examination of the head and neck should be included as part of the evaluation of every dental patient. Although they most often represent a self-limited inflammation, a benign neoplasm, or a congenital anomaly, neck lesions can also be malignant. Because the pathologic lesions that can arise in the neck are varied and diverse, the diagnostic thought process should be orderly and inclusive so that a reasonable differential diagnosis can be established and prompt, effective treatment can be rendered.