MR imaging of lymph nodes in the head and neck.

This article reviews imaging-based nodal classification, recent advancements in MR imaging techniques for lymph node imaging, and characteristics of MR imaging for necklymphadenopathy. Further technical development of MR imaging is necessary to improve accuracy of diagnosis of lymph node metastases in patients with no head and neck cancer. Development of new tissue-specific MR contrast agents and functional imaging studies to address biologic activity of lymph nodes is essential in the future.