Deep Neck Space

Question 1

Pseudomass of the parapharyngeal space

Answer 1

Asymmetric terygoid venous plexus*

Question 2

Congenital lesion of the parapharyngeal space

Answer 2

Atypical second branchial cyst

Question 3

Inflammatory lesion of the parapharyngeal space

Answer 3

Abscess spread from adjacent deep facial spaces*:
PMS: adenoids, tonsillitis
Parotid space: Calculus disease
Masticator space: Odontogenic infection

Question 4

Benign tumor of the parapharyngeal space

Answer 4

Pleomorphic adenopathy (benign mixed tumor) of salivary glands rest in the PPS

Lipoma

Question 5

Malignant tumor of paraphrayngeal space

Answer 5

Mucoepidermoid and adenoid cystic carcinoma and malignant mixed tumor of salivary gland rest in the PPS

Direct spread of malignant tumor from adjacent deep facial space*:
PMS: Squamous cell carcinoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, minor salivary gland malignancy
Masticator space: Sarcoma
Parotid space: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma

Question 6

Pseudomass of the pharyngeal mucosal space

Answer 6

Asymmetric fossa of Rusenmuller

Mucosal inflammation from infectious or radiation-induced pharyngitis

Question 7

Inflammatory lesion of the pharyngeal mucosal space

Answer 7

Adenoidal or faucial tonsil hpertrophy
Adenoidal or faucial tonsillitis
Adenoidal or faucial tonsil abscess
Post inflammatory dystrophic calcification
Post inflammatory retention cyst

*Note:
Just remember adenitis and tonsillitis

Question 8

Benign tumor of the pharyngeal mucosal space

Answer 8

Benign mixed tumor of the minor salivary gland origin

Question 9

Malignant tumor of the phrayngeal mucosal space

Answer 9

Squamous cell carcinoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Minor salivary gland malignancy

Question 10

Miscellaneous lesion of the pharyngeal mucosal space

Answer 10

Tornwaldt’s cyst

Question 11

Pseudotumor of the masticator space

Answer 11

Accessory parotid gland*
Benign masseteric hypertrophy*
Cranial nerve V3 denervation

Question 12

Congenital lesion the masticator space

Answer 12

Hemangioma

Lymphangioma

Question 13

Inflammatory lesion of the masticator space

Answer 13

Odontogenic abscess*

Mandibular osteomyelitis

Question 14

Benign tumor of the masticator space

Answer 14

Osteoblastoma
Leiomyoma
Neural sheath tumor (neurofibroma, schwannoma)

*Note:
Bone, muscle, nerve

Question 15

Malignant tumor of the masticator space

Answer 15

Sarcoma*:
Soft tissue
Chondrosarcoma
Osteosarcoma

Malignant schwannoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma*
Squamous cell carcinoma from oropharynx (retromolar trigone)*
Rhabdomyosarcoma (paediatric)*
Mandibular metastases

Question 16

Congenital lesion of the parotid space mass

Answer 16

First branchial cleft cyst
Hemangioma (in the paediatric population)
Lymphangioma (in the paediatric population)

Question 17

Inflammatory lesion of the parotid space mass

Answer 17

Abscess or cellulitis
Benign lymphoepithelial cysts (AIDS)
Reactive adenopathy

Question 18

Benign tumor of the parotid space mass

Answer 18

Pleomorphic adenoma (benign mixed tumor)*
Warthin’s tumor (papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum)*
Oncocytoma
Lipoma
Facial schwannoma

Question 19

Malignant tumor (primary) of the parotid mass

Answer 19

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma*
Adenoid cystic carcinoma*
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Acinous cell carcinoma
Malignant mixed tumor
Squamous cell carcinoma

Question 20

Malignant tumor (metastatic - within parotid nodes)

Answer 20

Skin squamous cell carcinoma*
Melanoma*
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

*Notes:
Adjacent malignancy

Question 21

Multiple lesion of the parotid space which are Inflammatory or infectious lesions

Answer 21

Reactive lymphadenopathy
Benign lymphoepithelia lesions (AIDS)
Sarcoid

Question 22

Multiple lesions of the parotid space which are primary tumors

Answer 22

Warthin’s tumor
Acinic cell carcinoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (within parenchyma)

Question 23

Multiple lesion of the parotid space which are nodal tumors

Answer 23

Metastatic tumor
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (within parotid nodes)
Skin malignancy 
Squamous cell carcinoma
Melanoma

Question 24

Pseudomass of the carotid space

Answer 24

Ecstatic common or internal carotid artery*

Asymmetric internal jugular vein*

Question 25

Inflammatory lesion of the carotid space

Answer 25

Carotid space cellulitis or abscess

Question 26

Vascular lesions of carotid space

Answer 26

Jugular vein thrombosis or thrombophlebitis* Internal carotid artery thrombosis, mural thrombus, aneurysm, or pseudoaneurysm* Internal carotid artery dissection

Question 27

Benign tumor of the carotid space

Answer 27

Paraganglioma*: - Glomus jugulare - Glomus vagale - Carotid body tumor Neural sheath tumor - Schwannoma* - Neurofibroma Meningioma (from jugular foramen)

Question 28

Malignant tumor of the carotid space

Answer 28

Squamous cell carcinoma nodal metastasis* Direct invasion by primary squamous cell carcinoma Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Question 29

Pseudomass of the retropharyngeal space

Answer 29

Tortuous carotid artery | Edema fluid or lymph spilling into the retropharyngeal space secondary to deep venous or lymphatic obstruction

Question 30

Congenital lesion of the retropharyngeal space

Answer 30

Hemangioma Lymphangioma *Note: Same as in the masticator and parotid spaces

Question 31

Inflammatory lesion of the retropharyngeal space

Answer 31

Reactive adenopathy* Cellulitis* Suppurative adenopathy (intranodal abscess)* Abscess*

Question 32

Benign tumor of the retropharyngeal space

Answer 32

Lipoma

Question 33

Malignant tumor of the retropharyngeal space

Answer 33

Nodal metastases - Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck origin (especially from the nasopharynx)* - Melanoma - Thyroid carcinoma Nodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma* Direct invasion from primary squamous cell carcinoma (especially posterior wall primary lesions)*

Question 34

Pseudomass of the perivertebral space

Answer 34

``` Vertebral body osteophyte* Anterior disc herniation Levator scapulae hypertrophy Large or asymmetric transverse process Cervical rib Hypertrophic facet joint ``` *Notes: Bone related

Question 35

Vascular lesion of the perivertebral space

Answer 35

Vertebral artery dissection Aneurysm Pseudoaneurysm

Question 36

Inflammatory lesion of the perivertebral space

Answer 36

Vertebral body osteomyelitis* - Pyogenic osteomyelitis - Tuberculous spondylitis

Question 37

Benign tumor of the perivertebral space

Answer 37

Schwannoma, neurofibroma (branchial plexus) | Vertebral body benign bony tumors

Question 38

Malignant tumors of the perivertebral space

Answer 38

``` Chordoma Vertebral body or epidural metastasis* Non-Hodgkin lymphoma Direct invasion of squamous cell carcinoma Vertebral body primary malignant tumor ```