A SIMPLIFIED APPROACH TO THE SPACES OF THE SUPRAHYOID NECK

CT and MR imaging permit exquisite visualization of the complex spatia l anatomy of the suprahyoid neck. In spite of the large body of litera ture devoted to these spaces, their names and locations often are diff icult to learn. By knowing the spaces and their components, the radiol ogist can generate an anatomically based differential diagnosis. This article presents a simplified approach to the various spaces of the su prahyoid neck and their anatomic components. Each space is discussed s eparately and is accompanied by a table that lists a differential diag nosis based primarily on the normal anatomic contents of the space.